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Germany Urged to Include Holodomor in School Curricula

Source: Call grows for German government to include Holodomor in Soviet Ukraine in school curricula (2025-11-22)

A growing coalition of politicians, civic leaders, and historians from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine is calling on the German government to incorporate the Holodomor into school curricula nationwide. This appeal, signed by about 20 prominent figures including Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung and Ukrainian activist Oksana Zabuzhko, was sent to Federal Education Minister Karin Prien on the anniversary of the Holodomor remembrance day. The Holodomor, a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, resulted in millions of Ukrainian deaths and has been recognized by the German Bundestag as a genocide since 2022. Despite this recognition, educational efforts remain limited, with only one German state including the event as an optional topic. The advocates emphasize that education about the Holodomor is crucial for fostering awareness of historical atrocities, combating misinformation, and strengthening Ukraine's historical memory amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Recent developments highlight the importance of this initiative: 1. The Holodomor is increasingly recognized globally as a genocide, with over 20 countries officially acknowledging it as such, including Canada, Argentina, and Mexico. 2. Germany's Bundestag passed a resolution in 2022 urging educational institutions to raise awareness about the Holodomor, yet implementation remains inconsistent across federal states. 3. The inclusion of the Holodomor in curricula is part of a broader effort to confront historical injustices related to Soviet-era atrocities, including the Katyn massacre and Soviet repression. 4. Experts argue that teaching about the Holodomor can help prevent denialism and promote understanding of the impacts of totalitarian regimes. 5. International organizations, such as the Ukrainian World Congress and the European Network of Remembrance and Solidarity, actively advocate for comprehensive education on genocides and mass atrocities, including the Holodomor. 6. Recent research indicates that awareness of the Holodomor among young Europeans remains low, underscoring the need for educational reforms. 7. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has renewed global interest in historical memory, prompting calls for more inclusive and accurate history education to support reconciliation and international solidarity. 8. Germany's role as a leader in Holocaust remembrance and human rights education positions it uniquely to expand its curriculum to include other genocides like the Holodomor. 9. The push for curriculum reform aligns with broader European efforts to confront past atrocities and promote human rights education across member states. 10. As debates continue, educational policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of integrating difficult historical events into school programs to foster critical thinking and empathy among students. This movement reflects a broader global trend toward acknowledging and teaching difficult histories to ensure that lessons from the past inform a more just and aware future. As Germany considers expanding its educational content, the inclusion of the Holodomor could serve as a vital step in honoring victims, combating denial, and strengthening international understanding of Soviet-era atrocities.

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