The conference examines Nazi society and sheds light on the processes behind the ideologically charged concept of the "people's community" (Volksgemeinschaft). Although this term itself remained vague, it was propagated as a utopia of an ideal society. The Nazi regime attempted to implement this utopia through the propagandistic and forced integration of all social groups, through the "Gleichschaltung" (synchronisation) of the media and through political and economic measures. At the same time, this led to a steadily radicalising exclusion of all those who did not belong to the imagined community.
This topic has been the subject of intensive research over the past two decades. The conference aims to categorise the debates associated with the term "people's community" in retrospect and take the opportunity to critically review recent research on the social history of National Socialism. The aim is also to develop perspectives for historical and political education.
Throughout Germany, and not least in what is now Lower Saxony, numerous spaces or theatres were created for the propagandistic staging of the “people's community”. Existing historical sites and regional narratives were ideologically reshaped. Using concrete examples, the conference will deconstruct propagandistic stagings of the Nazi regime and show the spectrum of possible behaviours of the local population between consent, participation, distancing and refusal. This will reveal the scope for action of individuals and groups, institutions and organisations that shaped everyday life in National Socialist Germany.
We are looking for contributions that present recent research on specific aspects of "people's community" mobilisation or on forms of consent, participation and dissociation within Nazi society. Equally welcome are counter-examples that shed light on practices of distancing, refusal or individual room for manoeuvre, as well as historical-political education projects that make such dynamics tangible for today's learning contexts. We welcome contributions from Lower Saxony or on topics that relate to the territory of Lower Saxony today. Contributions from other federal states are also welcome.
Please send your title, short biography and abstract (max. 200 words) by 31 December 2025 to the Lower Saxony Memorials Foundation (e-mail: gfn@stiftung-ng.de)
Travel and accommodation costs for speakers will be covered.
Presentations will be given 25 minutes each. A publication of selected conference papers in the new online journal of the Lower Saxony Memorials Foundation is planned. Please submit revised manuscripts (6,000-9,000 words) by 15 October 2026.