Workshop introduction in Friedrichshafen, focusing on 'Landshut'

The recent workshop organised by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and the State Agency for Civic Education Baden-Württemberg offered students a unique learning opportunity. The event, which focused on the 1977 hijacked Lufthansa plane "Landshut", provided a first-hand account of this historical event.

The workshop was officially welcomed by Thomas Krüger and Anja Meitner. Students from grades 9-12 visited the "Landshut" during the workshop. The aircraft, which has been housed in a hangar in Friedrichshafen since 1977, was the centrepiece of the event.

After returning from the plane visit, participants discussed the concept of history and its meaning. Diana Müller, an eyewitness to the "Landshut" hijacking, described her location at the time of the plane's liberation and shared her fears and hopes. Jürgen Vietor, another eyewitness, also shared his account.

The visit to the wreckage of the "Landshut" plane was accompanied by eyewitnesses. Aribert Martin, for instance, showed the door he used to enter the plane during the storming. Airport security was cleared, and safety vests were provided for all participants before the visit.

Students used an interactive timeline to trace the events leading up to and following the "Landshut" hijacking. They also discussed the criteria for an event to become history and the role of various actors in historicization. Among the terms collected in a word cloud were past, experiences, changes, learning opportunity, collective memory, etc.

Christian Gieseke, the head of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (BpB), who participated in the workshop, asked eyewitnesses to demonstrate their positions during the plane's liberation. This offered unique experiences for the students.

The "Landshut" is set to become part of a future "Landshut Learning Site". The workshop highlighted the complexity of the concept of 'history', emphasising that it is more than just a series of events. It is a collective memory, a learning opportunity, and a reflection of changes in society.

Despite the lack of information about the head of the BpB who participated in the workshop, the event was a success in fostering a deeper understanding of history among the students. The workshop provided a valuable learning experience, offering a glimpse into a significant event in Germany's past.