Germany

Contact
Körber-Stiftung
Körber Foundation

Sven Tetzlaff

Kehrwieder 12
D - 20457 Hamburg
Phone: +49-40-80 81 92 145
Fax: +49-40-80 81 92 302
Email: gesch.wett@koerber-stiftung.de
Homepage: http://www.koerber-stiftung.de
About the organisation
The Körber-Stiftung is a private, non-profit organisation, founded by Dr. h.c. Kurt A. Körber in 1959. The foundation encourages citizens to actively get involved in public discourses on politics, education, science and international communication. Those who take part in the competitions and round table discussions organised by the foundation, benefit in many ways: they can pass on knowledge, identify problems and initiate activities. These kind of stimulus form the Körber-Stiftung’s contribution to the everyday political culture within the democracy.
The history competition
In the 1970s, the former Federal President Gustav Heinemann posed the question that started our competition: "How can we make Germans aware of the democratic traditions in German history?" Instead of setting up a museum he adopted the idea of the Körber-Stiftung to involve young people in discussions and analysing the existing controversy about Germany’s democratic past. In 1973, President Heinemann and Kurt A. Körber announced the first history competition. Since then the "Geschichtswettbewerb des Bundespräsidenten" has become Germany’s largest organised amateur research movement; every two years the German President opens a new round of the competition.
Other activities
As an operational foundation the Körber-Stiftung is active with own projects in the following areas: International Dialogue: The Bergedorf Round Table, German-Turkish Dialogue, USable - the Transatlantic Idea Contest
  • Historical and Political Program: Federal President’s History Competition ­, EUSTORY – History Network for Young Europeans, Living Together in Europe
  • Science and Society: The Körber European Science Award, German Students Research Award
  • Promoting Individual Initiative: Community Foundation Dresden, "Haus im Park" Citizen’s Center
  • Programs in Hamburg: Theatre "Haus im Park", International Opera Studio, Boy Gobert Prize, Körber Photography Award
Requirements
All young people up to age 21, schoolchildren, apprentices, and students may take part in the competition as individuals or groups. The Körber-Stiftung distributes its own history magazine "Spuren Suchen" (Searching for Traces) as well as teaching material for history courses, that serve guidelines for students and teachers who are interested in participating. Competition entries are accepted in German only. If the participant received help from a tutor, the kind and extent of that help has to be described in the entry form. The submission has to have something to do with the area where the participant lives, attends school or works. There has to be a local, regional, or biographical approach to the chosen topic. During a research period of six months, the young historians have to decide themselves which aspects of the topic they want to select and how they are going to realise their project. It is up to the youths whether they concentrate on interviewing contemporary witnesses or focus on public archive investigations and newspaper research. The final presentation of their findings leaves room for variety; most frequently, manuscripts, videos and collages have been submitted. In recent years, the number of CD-Rom and internet presentations has increased considerably.
Jury
A group consisting of 200 historians, teachers, history lecturers, archivists, and museum experts, selects the best pieces from an average of 1000 investigations. Subsequently, 24 regional juries shortlist the best candidates before a central jury chooses the best contributions on a national level.

The jury takes into consideration the age of the participants (grades 3-6; 7-10; 11 and up) and type of school they attend.
Award
Awards, cash and other prizes amount to 250.000 EURO. There are
5 first prizes: € 2.000 each
10 second prizes: € 1.500 each
25 third prizes: € 1.000 each
50 fourth prizes: € 500 each
60 fifth prizes: € 300 each
plus extra prizes
The top winning candidates are awarded their prizes by the German President at his official residence. In addition, award winners who show a particular talent have a chance to be accepted by the German National Merit Foundation. Every participant to the competition receives a certificate.