Educational materials | University of Tübingen

Educational materials on German reunification and oral history

[Translate to English:] Evelyn Z., Teilnehmerin einer Studie mit Zeitzeug/-innen, mit Schülerinnen und Schülern

The materials compiled here are designed to help teachers explore the period of German-German history in a nuanced way in the classroom. The focus is on biographical perspectives, eyewitness accounts, and diverse interpretations of social upheavals in East and West Germany.

The resources combine historical contextualization with oral history approaches and encourage the analysis of narratives, experiences, and public discourse. They are suitable for grades 7–12/13.

You will find the following materials on this page:

Lesson units
Further educational materials
Future workshop
Videos for classroom use

Lesson units

Here you will find three freely available lesson units.

Perspectives on the period of transformation

Grade 7-10

The unit provides a step-by-step introduction to the topic:

1st double period: Introduction to key terms and historical contexts
2nd double period: Working with eyewitness videos (approx. 20 minutes) from East and West Germany
3. Double period: In-depth study using supplementary materials (statistics, speeches, etc.) and reflection on working with eyewitnesses

The goal is to conduct a comparative analysis of different perspectives on the period of transformation.

Materials (Arbeiter, 2022)

Experiences during the period of transformation in East Germany

Grade 10-12/13

In one single-period class and two double-period classes, students use video clips (approx. 20 minutes) to explore how differently the period of transformation was experienced.

The focus is on two East German eyewitnesses with different family backgrounds and life experiences.

The goal is to highlight the diversity of individual experiences and to challenge sweeping generalizations.

Materials (Bultmann, 2023)

Talking about East Germany

Grade 10-12/13

This unit contrasts different narratives about East Germany and the period of transformation.

The materials used are:

Video clips featuring East German eyewitnesses (approx. 20 minutes)
A lecture by Thomas Großbölting (approx. 20 minutes)

The focus is on analyzing patterns of interpretation and public discourse.

Materials (Bultmann, 2024)

Further materials

Meeting with eyewitnesses

Here you will find practical tips for reflecting on encounters with eyewitnesses (Zarich, 2024). Drawing on her research with (video-recorded) eyewitnesses, Dr. Zarich explains the “aura” experience that arises during encounters with eyewitnesses.

Transformation society

The material in "Transformation – Concept, Event, Interpretations, Communication" (Lux, 2024) uses the concept of “transformation” as a starting point to explain the historical context of the transformation period, various interpretations, and the challenges of communicating this topic.

Future workshop with the "Generation 1975"

Using a freely accessible TaskCard, eight biographies of the “Generation 1975” from East and West Germany can be explored collaboratively in the classroom.

Building on this, the Berlin Wall Foundation developed a “workshop” :
Students take on the perspective of a biography in a moderated discussion and then produce a video in which they reflect on how they would describe the current “turning point” in history 20 years from now.

Information about the workshop (schedule and assignments) is available upon request from Kathrin Steinhausen.

Videos for classroom use

“Generation 1975” and “Generation Wall Construction”

Here you will find the shortened individual videos. These are made available for free by the ZSL PeerTube of the Baden-Württemberg Teacher Training Program.

Generation Wall Construction

Generation 1975