The aim of the project was to present, within the framework of an international conference, the operation of the law and justice system in communist and fascist regimes, the nature of show trials, concentration and labour camps and the fate of political refugees before and after World War II. During the conference, more than 100 young intellectuals coming from seven countries got an insight into the internal structures of totalitarian systems and got to know the tragic fate of individuals and groups (at cases communities of millions of people). The conference puts emphasis on drawing the attention of young generations to the tragic events of the 20th century, and on presenting to the history majors and PhD-s even the less known events that happened in certain Eastern European countries. During the conference we gave the opportunity for university students to make presentations, thus enabling them to present cases from the 20th century history of Europe which demonstrate the nature of political persecutions as a symptom on both the level of individuals and communities.

The project provided to opportunity for reconsidering and historically processing the events. The Institute for History at the Faculty of Humanities of Eötvös Loránd University aimed at the organisation of an international conference. The event was finally organised by the Department for Modern and Contemporary Global History. The international partners were partly selected thematically (concerned countries) and partly along the lines of our university’s existing international relations. Our partners were the Humboldt University of Berlin, the University of Vienna, the University of Warsaw, the Università degli Studi di Padova, the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" and the Michel de Montaigne University of Bordeaux. Our project was supported by The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union.

Our aim was to allow the History majors and PhD-s of the seven participating countries to discuss the events related to the sessions and in the workgroups of the scientific conference and to get acquainted with the opinion and point of view of the students from other countries.

Every partner sent its delegation to the event, which was organised between March 2-5, 2011. As it is clearly visible from the presentations uploaded to the website, both students and lecturers gave their best and we can consider the conference professionally successful. We are also sure that everyone returned home with positive memories and many friends richer, and our event contributed to the building of a new, common Europe.

Budapest, March 6, 2011

Dr. Zoltán Maruzsa
Assistant professor,ELTE BTK
Head organiser