The Franco-German Joint History Textbook: A Tool for Reconciliation and Reducing Historical Animosities
Abstract The Franco-German joint history textbook, Histoire/Geschichte, represents a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation aimed at fostering mutual understanding and mitigating ethnic and national tensions between France and Germany. Initiated in the early 2000s as part of broader post–World War II reconciliation efforts, the project sought to create a shared historical narrative for secondary school students. It addressed sensitive topics such as the World Wars and periods of occupation through multiperspectival approaches. This paper examines the historical context of Franco-German hostility, the development and content of the textbook, its implementation and reception, and its broader impact on bilateral relations and the reduction of conflict. It argues that educational initiatives like this are essential in transforming adversarial memories into foundations for peace, serving as a model for other divided societies (He, 2009; Judt, 2006). Introduction ...