Fifth Early Career Workshop of the German-Ukrainian Historical Commission in Wrocław (2023)

From 5 to 8 October 2023, the German-Ukrainian Historical Commission held its fifth international early career workshop in Wrocław under the title “Genocide in History and Law.” The event brought together early career researchers from across Europe and provided a platform for discussing key issues related to mass violence and its legal classification.

The workshop was organised and academically led by Prof. Martin Schulze Wessel, Prof. Gelinada Grinchenko, and Prof. Krzysztof Ruchniewicz, who were responsible for the conceptual design and academic programme. The workshop focused on interdisciplinary approaches to genocide, mass crimes, and their historical and legal interpretation. Participants presented research on a wide range of topics, including Nazi crimes, the fate of Soviet prisoners of war, and underexplored dimensions of the Holocaust, particularly the experiences of women and children.

A central theme of the discussions was the role of memory politics and legal frameworks in shaping collective understandings of the past. Special attention was given to memory laws and their impact on nation-building processes and European integration.

Several contributions also addressed the political instrumentalisation of history in contemporary contexts. Case studies on Russia and Belarus illustrated how the concept of genocide is employed within state-driven historical narratives and current geopolitical conflicts.

In addition, the workshop explored the long-term consequences of violence, including trauma, memory cultures, and the representation of Jewish heritage in Eastern Europe. The workshop was characterised by intensive academic exchange and thematic diversity, making a significant contribution to the development of early career scholars and the strengthening of international research cooperation.