Faculty of Philosophy

Fakt oder Fake? Weimarer Rendez-vous mit der Geschichte

Date
30. Oct 2026 - 1. Nov 2026
Location
various
Series
Weimarer Rendez-vous mit der Geschichte
Organizer
Weimarer Rendez-vous mit der Geschichte
Event type
Others
Event Language(s)
German
Audience
public

International festival in Thuringia, organised in cooperation with or with the participation of the University of Erfurt

Propaganda, education, myths, perceptions of history – the relationship between truth and lies shapes both history and our present. In the age of fake news, AI and growing authoritarianism, the struggle for freedom of expression, freedom of the press, academic freedom and artistic freedom is becoming the litmus test of democracy. Join experts from academia, the public sphere and civil society to discuss how we deal with facts and fakes – and the many grey areas in between. Featuring: panel discussions, talks, guided tours, film, music, a pub quiz and much more.

Find out more about the festival and the 2026 theme here

Events involving the University of Erfurt

  • 27.10.2026, 7 pm (Erinnerungsstätte Topf & Söhne, Erfurt) Podium: Leugnen, verharmlosen, relativieren. Der Holocaust und die extreme Rechte 
    • Lecture by Dr Maik Tändler, Institute for Contemporary History, Munich-Berlin, followed by a panel discussion with Professor Christiane Kuller, Modern and Contemporary History and History Education at the University of Erfurt, as well as Professor Annegret Schüle, Director of the Erinnerungsort Topf & Söhne, Moderation: Michael Weise, Netzwerk Historiker*innen für eine demokratische Gesellschaft (hist4dem)

  • 28.10.2026, 6 pm (Stadt- und Regionalbibliothek Gera) Conversation with an eyewitness “Lügen, manipulieren, hintergehen – Was man von den Stasi-Methoden ahnte, und was die Akten erzählen. Lothar Rochau im Gespräch”

    • with Christian Hermann (A historian and research employee at the Andreasstraße Memorial and Education Centre in Erfurt, he is currently working on a joint participatory research project between the University of Erfurt and the City of Erfurt on the period of transformation in Erfurt), and Lothar Rochau; Moderator: Sandra Meenzen; Welcome address: Dr Andreas Braune, Head of the Weimar Rendez-vous with History

  • 29.10.2026, 7 pm (Kleine Synagoge Erfurt) Podium: Von 'Brunnenvergiftern' zu den ‘Globalisten’: Antijüdische Verschwörungserzählungen: Vom Mittelalter bis zu ihrer Globalisierung

    • with Professor Sabine Schmolinsky is a professor (retired) of medieval history at the University of Erfurt (her research focuses, amongst other things, on Jewish life in Europe and Erfurt, and she is actively involved in the Network of Historians for a Democratic Society (hist4dem), working to promote a conscious, open and reflective culture of remembrance.) along with Michael Weise and Professor Uffa Jensen; moderator: Dr Andreas Braune; welcome address: Michael Panse
  • 29./30.10.2026 „Fakt oder Fake?“ // „Info ou infox ?“ German-French workshop for PhD students (history/humanities and Social Science concentration with a historical focus) as part of the ‘Weimar Rendez-vous with History’.
  • 31.10.2026, 3 pm (Kulturzentrum mon ami) Podium: Zwischen Finden und Faken – Geschichtsvermittlung und historische Forschung in der KI-Revolution
    • with Professor Ute Schmid, Professor Anna Neovesky (Professor of Digital Humanities at the University of Erfurt) and Sebastian Xanke; Moderator: Stella Drebber
  • 01.11.2026, 1 pm (Kulturzentrum mon ami) Podium: ‘Nützt es dem Volk, betrogen zu werden?’ Hohe Ansprüche und lange Schatten der Aufklärung
    • with Professor Elisabeth Décultot, Dr Markus Meumann (historian, acting Director of the Gotha Research Centre and speaker for the Centre for Research into the Illuminati there. His research there focuses, amongst other things, on the role of secret societies in communication and knowledge networks) and Professor Dr Uwe Hoßfeld; moderated by PD Dr Heiner Stahl (historian at the University of Erfurt)
  • 01.11.2026, 4 pm (Kulturzentrum mon ami ) Erzählcafé: Opa war (k)ein Nazi? Austausch zum schwierigen Umgang mit NS-Geschichte in den Familien der Deutschen
    • In collaboration with the Oral History Research Centre at the University of Erfurt; introduction and moderation: Dr Agnès Arp (historian and co-head of the Oral History Research Centre at the University of Erfurt. She regularly organises storytelling cafés on contemporary historical topics and other formats for dialogue with eyewitnesses) and Dr Sabine Moller
  • 01.11.2026, 8 pm (Kommunales Kino mon ami ) Film with talk: 2 oder 3 Dinge, die ich von ihm weiß
    • with Dr Agnès Arp (University of Erfurt) and Sabine Moller (Berlin)