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Deportation Day: Live History Lesson

Gulag experience for young generation of Europeans

January - March 2010

During the winter of 2010 we  recreated on of the most tragic periods of European history – Stalins‘ GULAG (1939-1953 ). The year chosen is the year of Stalins‘ death, 1953. January 1st, 1953, more than 2 500 000 people were kept in the camps around USSR. 40-50 young students from different EU countries will become Stalins‘ victims for one day in the winter of 2010. (9 groups altogether, 398 participants from 23 EU countries).

The Deportation Day began in the early afternoon in the Museum of KGB victims in the centre of Vilnius. After 1 hour excursion , during which young people  have visited an authentic KGB prison, every group was driven by the bus, later - by an authentic Soviet truck ZIL157K through the forest to the fenced teritory of a Soviet Bunker, where Stalin‘s camp is recreated.

Young Europeans have lost their identity by putting on prisoners clothes with numbers. They have spent 4-5 hours in the Stalinist camp working in a forest, making the wood, cooking for themselves, trying to survive KGB interrogations, trying to escape from the camp. The day of each group has ended with an anouncement of Stalins‘ death and an amnesty. Then a light European snack and a discussion with actors ended this unique experience.

Some statistics about the project:

Participants by country: Lithuania 140, Latvia 87, Poland 44, Spain 27, France 24, Italy 17, Czekh Republic 15, Germany 14, Austria 5 , Greece 4, Belgium 3, Netherlands 3, Portugal 3, Romania 2, Hungary 2,  Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Denmark, Finland - 1.

This live history lesson has fostered deep reflection of the common past of European nations and people. Representatives of both target groups – older people, who have experienced the Stalins’ regime as well as young generation have come together on March 9th,  2010, when Lithuania celebrated 20th anniversary of the restitution of Independence, in a final discussion to compare the experience of the simulated deportation the youngsters went through with the real individual experiences. The publication of discussion materials, a DVD of the project followed

The European Union is built on fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. In order to fully appreciate their meaning, it is necessary to remember the breaches of those principles caused by Nazism and Stalinism in Europe. By commemorating the victims, by preserving the sites and archives associated with deportations, Europeans will preserve the memory of the past, including its dark sides. It is particularly important to do so now, as witnesses are progressively disappearing. An awareness of the full dimensions and tragic consequences of the Second World War will thereby be maintained, in particular through the involvement of the younger generations of Europeans. Furthermore, citizens will engage in a reflection on the origins of the European Union, fifty years ago, on the history of European integration, which preserved peace among its members, and finally on today’s Europe, thereby moving beyond the past and building the future. This action therefore will play an important role in nourishing the broad reflection on the future of Europe and in promoting active European citizenship.

The aims of this action, in line with the objectives of the Programme, are twofold: ‘fostering action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture’ and ‘bringing Europe closer to its citizens by promoting Europe’s values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past’.