New educational film reveals German-Polish history in Frankfurt (Oder)

New educational film reveals German-Polish history in Frankfurt (Oder)

On April 14, 2025, a new educational film from the Institute for Film and Image in Science and Education (FWU) was released, which deals with the historical places in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. The film, made by Viadrina graduate Mateusz Weis-Banaszczyk together with Prof. Dr. Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast aims to promote understanding of German-Polish relations since 1945. In an interview, Jajeśniak-Quast said that the film also deals with topics such as the political developments of both countries, including the Görlitz Treaty and the coming to terms with National Socialist crimes in East and West German history as well as in Poland.

A message of reconciliation is conveyed with the peace bell on the Oder, which serves as the symbolic starting point of the film and bears the inscription “Peace and friendship with all peoples”. This bell is traditionally rung on September 1st for World Peace Day. Jajeśniak-Quast expresses the hope that the film will be of particular interest to students in the 9th and 10th grades and will encourage a deeper examination of German-Polish history.

Themes of the film

The educational film offers a comprehensive look at German-Polish relations and evaluates the changes that occurred after the Cold War. This particularly includes Poland's accession to the European Union and the Schengen area as important turning points in the history of the two nations. Dr. Agnieszka Łada-Konefał also points out the asymmetries in these relations and emphasizes the need for more encounters between Poles and Germans.

Filming with Weis-Banaszczyk was described as inspiring by Jajeśniak-Quast. She is surprised at the time that was “wasted” during filming, which indicates the intensive engagement with the topics. Her wish is that the film not only fulfills teaching purposes, but also arouses interest in studying at Viadrina.

The Görlitz Treaty and its meaning

The Görlitz Treaty, signed between the GDR and Poland in Zgorzelec on July 6, 1950, plays a central role in the historical context of the film. This treaty defined the Oder-Neisse line as the state border between Germany and Poland and stems from the Potsdam Resolutions of 1945, which provisionally determined Poland's western borders. Despite the agreements made at the time to define the border by the victorious powers, the Oder-Neisse line was recognized by the SED as an “inviolable peace and friendship border”.

It is noteworthy that the Görlitz Treaty was accepted at the time without border corrections and without major opposition from the affected residents. These aspects are covered in the film to provide a broader historical context relevant to understanding contemporary relationships. The treaty was ultimately confirmed under international law in 1990 by the border treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and Poland.