Great success for Dömitz School: Best in the history competition!

Great success for Dömitz School: Best in the history competition!

The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region has once again proven that it is a hotspot for historical engagement. The 2025 history competition under the haunting motto "So far and no further!? Limits in history" has awakened the creativity and research spirit of 141 children and young people in the region. The Fritz Reuter Gymnasiale School Center in Dömitz is one step ahead and has emerged as the best school in the country. This is reported by NDR.

A total of 39 entries were submitted during the competition, an impressive number, especially considering that participation numbers more than doubled compared to last year. This makes this competition the most successful round in 30 years, according to the Körber Foundation, which organizes the competition.

Successful teams and creative work

Particularly highlighted is the Evangelical Technical School for Social Education in Schwerin, whose 16 students from the 13th grade won the group prize for their film about the development of pedagogy in the GDR. This creative examination of history is just one example of the diversity of the works submitted, which not only address geographical boundaries, but also social and personal experiences. As part of the competition, participants also worked on experiences and stories surrounding the former inner-German border, as reported by Körber-Stiftung.

Across Germany, over 6,720 children and young people got involved with a total of 2,289 contributions. The topics varied and included important social issues, from escape and migration to personal borderline experiences, which are often viewed in a new light. The best works will be honored on July 2, 2025, with the state winners also having the opportunity to snag one of the 50 coveted federal prizes.

Support and future opportunities

The Körber Foundation not only provides the framework for this exciting competition, but also offers a variety of support measures. This includes workshops and access to historical source material via the Landesarchiv Berlin, which is available to participants. This support is particularly valuable as participants often also need inspiration and information from overseas countries to understand the story in a broader context.

Another highlight is the festive setting in which the prizes are presented. On November 11, 2025, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will personally present the first prizes at Bellevue Palace in Berlin. This year, 250 state winners and 250 other award winners share the opportunity to be recognized for their creative contributions.

The lively participation and the high quality of the work show that the history competition is not only a playground for creative minds, but also an important part of the educational landscape in Germany. Who would have thought that borderline experiences could be so inspiring!

Stay tuned, we will continue to report on the developments and results of the competition!