‘Masuria – Somewhere in Between’ – A Trip to the Historical German-Polish Borderland

During their study trip to Masuria, the participants of In Between visited Pisz, Mikołajki, Kadzidłowo, Ełk, and Ogródek to explore the memory of the German-Polish neighbourhood from over eighty years ago. By telling this audio story, they seek to understand the social relations in the area, marked by ethnic and national rivalries, both before 1945, when Masuria was part of Germany, and after 1945, when it was ceded to Poland and the ethnic composition of much of the population changed. Who are the Masurians? Can traces of this complicated past still be seen in the landscape of a region that is now a popular holiday destination? These questions were the starting point of interviews with witnesses to history, activists, and representatives of local institutions.

'(Un)common Borderland. Stories From Finland, Estonia, and the Journey In Between'

The authors of the podcast '(Un)common Borderland' retraced the historical routes across the Baltic Sea, travelling to Helsinki, Finland, and later crossing the 80 km sea passage to Tallinn, Estonia. During the Cold War this journey was accessible only to a select few, subject to strict restrictions and scrutiny by border guards. Today, it reflects the transformation of the region and the renewed cooperation between the two countries, which, after all, share much in common. Through the interviews, students learned personal stories from those who lived through this period of separation and explored the many physical and symbolic meanings of the border.