Forum February 13 transnational
February 10 - 12, 2025, Dresden central plant
February 13, 1945 has literally etched itself into Dresden's city history, and the date also has a broad international resonance. The memory of the Allied air raid on Dresden is characterized by countless perspectives, interpretations and battles over interpretation. A large number of international stakeholders from science, literature, art and civil society are dealing with the memories of these events. The spectrum ranges from self-critical reflection to right-wing extremist exploitation. They have produced novels, essays, non-fiction books, music and dance pieces, paintings and monuments, offers of help and concrete support for reconstruction.
Against this background, the question arises: What role did and does transnationality play in the memory of February 13? The interactive Forum 13 February transnational is the first to address this key question comprehensively and systematically.
How have international observers looked at February 13 since the end of the Second World War? Did the international interpretations of the attack on Dresden find their way into national and local discourses of remembrance? How did the view from outside change the city of Dresden's perspective on the events? Did it reinforce or change the formation of a Dresden myth? Which stakeholders were and are involved in addition to the official political representatives? What exchange was and is there between them and the various discourses?
The lectures, panels, workshops and excursions at the Forum 13 February transnational, with which we would like to bring science, art, teachers and students/pupils as well as civil society into an exchange, revolve around all of these topics. We will look at the memory of this historical event far beyond the city of Dresden and ask about the consequences for the current manifestations of Dresden's culture of remembrance.
We look forward to meeting you and wish you interesting and stimulating days in February!
Program overview
FORUM February 13 transnational
tours, talks, workshops and screenings
Monday, 10 February 2025 – Day One
14:00 – 14:20
Welcome
14:20 – 14:50
Getting to Know Each Other Café / Choreographed Dialogue
15:00 – 16:15
Keynote 1: Historical Perspective
Malte Thießen: The Air Raid on Dresden in Transnational Memory
16:15 – 16:30
Informal Exchange / Coffee Break
16:30 – 18:00
Tours:
The Air Raid as Salvation: Perspectives of NS Victims and Contributions to Memory
- Tour 1: Goehle-Werk, Henny Brenner, Sonja Kaeten, Stefanie Köhler (Zentralwerk e.V.)
- Tour 2: Audio-guided City Tour on the Persecution and Annihilation of Jews in Dresden 1933–1945 (audioscript)
Meeting Point: Foyer
18:00 – 19:00
Dinner (Buffet)
19:00 – 21:30
Public Evening Event:
Screening of the film "Come Together. Dresden and 13 February" director/author: Barbara Lubich; co-authors: Claudia Jerzak, Michael Sommermeyer. hechtfilm 2012
Panel Discussion:
Stefan Goebel (University of Kent, UK), Barbara Lubich, Claudia Jerzak, Johannes Schütz (TU Dresden); Moderation: Nicole Aurich
Tuesday, 11 February 2025 – Day Two
09:00 – 10:30
Keynote 2: Perspectives from Civil Society
Matthias Neutzner: Processing the Air Raid – From Dresden to the World
Venue: HB Saal (Agora)
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30
Workshops:
- 2a: Dresden as an Art and Cultural City: International Perspectives before and after 1945 (Led by Caroline Förster)
- 2b: Between Life and Death: Memories of Czech Prisoners on the February 1945 Air Raids (Led by Birgit Sack and Volker Strähle)
12:30 – 14:00
Lunch
14:00 – 17:00
Workshops with Break (15:25 – 15:45):
- 3a: Loss and Reappropriation of Cities in Central Europe Since 1945 (with students from Dresden, Poland, and Czechia, led by Stephanie Zloch)
- 3b: Historical Experiences of the Dresden Air Raid (Led by Dagmar Ellerbrock)
Wednesday, 12 February 2025 – Day Three
09:00 – 11:00
Workshop 4: Dresden Migration Stories: "Courage at the Beginning of Action"
City Tour through Dresden's Old Town with Denys Lazariev (20 participants)
Start: Old Town or Zentralwerk (8:45), Destination: City Center
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00
Workshops:
- 5a: Storytelling Workshop: RE ESISTERE (Lavinia Xausa, in English with interpretation) – HB Saal (Agora)
- 5b: Reading and Discussion with Alexandria Peary – Foyer
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
14:30 – 15:30
Forum / Final Discussion / Dialogue
Optional Epilogue:
15:30
Exchange with TESTART Guests, Visit the Exhibition "Every Victim Has a Name"
20:00
Film Screening: "Für Joseph (The Aria)"
Small Hall
A personal cinematic composition by American film composer John Moran reflecting on Dresden.
Service
download
Participation in the forum is free of charge and only possible with registration. The number of participants is limited. If you are interested, please register by e-mail.
The event can also be attended as further training for teachers. You can find more information here: https: //tu-dresden.de/zlsb/lehrkraefteakademie/fortbildungsprogramm/termine/forum-13-februar-transnational
Registration deadline is February 5, 2025.
Registration is not required for events marked as public. It is possible to reserve a place by sending an email to .
How to get there
Zentralwerk | Riesaer Str. 32 | 01127 Dresden
from Dresden-Neustadt station: streetcar no. 3 (Wilder Mann, 7 min. to Zeithainer Straße, 3 min. on foot) or S1 (Meißen Altstadt, 4 min. to Dresden-Pieschen, 3 min. on foot); bus 63 and 73
Access / Accessibility
Unfortunately, some of the event rooms are not barrier-free. We are happy to provide you with access to all rooms and ask you to contact us for the organization.
The Forum 13 February transnational is an event of the TU Dresden, the Zentralwerk Dresden and the Dresdner Geschichtsverein e.V.
The event is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State governments.