Steinmeier Awards Prizes in History Competition - German students win top history awards amid rising disinformation threats
The top federal prizes in this year's history competition, themed 'This Far and No Further?! Boundaries in History,' were awarded to students from Dresden, Hamburg, Münster, and Karlsruhe. Each first-place winner received €2,500. The competition saw record participation with 6,720 children and young people submitting 2,289 entries. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has since spoken out about the importance of historical knowledge and the dangers of disinformation.
The winners of the history competition visited the Alte Gymnasium Bremen. President Steinmeier, who presented the awards, praised their efforts and encouraged more young people to engage with history. He emphasized the need for a critical approach to information in the face of rising disinformation. Steinmeier condemned disrespectful behavior at concentration camp memorials, including provocation with far-right symbols and slogans, and distortion or denial of Nazi crimes. He warned about authoritarian and extremist forces attempting to control historical narratives and manipulate collective memory through disinformation and deepfakes.
The history competition, with its record-breaking participation, has shown the interest and engagement of young people in historical topics. However, President Steinmeier's warnings highlight the importance of fostering critical thinking and historical awareness to combat disinformation and protect the integrity of historical narratives.
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