Settling the past, building a better future: reconciliation in history teaching in Germany and France

Abstract

In this article the author provides an over view of the reconciliation in teaching national history between Germany and France. The process was started well before the Second World War. However, it became fruitful only after the end of the Cold War thanks to the initiatives of the French and German Youth Parliament. The author hightlights the role of both French and German educators and historians as well as the support of German and French Governments, particularly the German Prime Minister Gerhard Schoeder and the French President Jacque Chirac. Nevertheless, the author also pointes out the German and French historians and educators try to settle the disputing issues concerning the irown national histories, but fully forget the reconciliation in teaching European history and colonial past of the former colonial empires.