Historical Competition: Call for Applications

MEMORIAL invites students aged 16–19 who are learning Russian as a foreign language to take part in an international history competition.

The theme of the year is “Freedom of Choice.” We invite participants to turn to personal stories and family memory, as well as to local archives and museums, to answer the question of whether freedom of choice existed for people in the 20th century. In what situations can it be found? What did people themselves think about it then, and what do they think about it today?

The focus does not have to be on heroic resistance — it may be a private situation of choice. From a child’s name to place of residence and profession, as well as everyday practices in which one can find freedom — or lack of choice.

We are primarily interested in the history of the USSR, but we also encourage participants to explore the topic within the sphere of Soviet influence. This may include socialist countries, as well as particular situations or phenomena in which a “Soviet trace” can be identified.

Conditions and Deadlines

Submission deadline: April 20, 2026, 23:59 CET
Results will be announced on May 4, 2026

Essay length: no more than 5,000 characters.

In this essay, we ask you to tell the story of a person who lived in the USSR or in the USSR’s sphere of influence and to explain your choice. To make your essay original, it is better to choose someone you know, such as a friend, relative, or someone else whose story you are familiar with, rather than a famous person from Wikipedia. To learn about somebody’s story, you can conduct an interview, visit a museum, read old newspapers, etc.  

Essays may be written in Russian, German, or English. Spelling and language proficiency will not be evaluated. We are interested in your ideas and reasoning, not in perfect wording.

What We Will Evaluate

1. Understanding of the theme and historical context
You clearly show how freedom of choice is reflected in the selected story.
It is clear what the problem of freedom is and how it relates to the historical context.

2. Ability to draw conclusions
You do not merely retell facts, but explain them.
The text contains your own thoughts and conclusions.

3. Clarity and logic
The text is easy to read.
Ideas are presented in a clear sequence.
It is clear how the work begins and what conclusion you reach.

Prizes

1st place – invitation to the Memorial Summer School
2nd place – useful and pleasant gifts
3rd place – publication of the essay on the project website

All participants will receive a personalized certificate.

How to Participate

To take part, please fill out a short application form via Google Forms

We collect only the minimal personal data necessary for participation and communication, and we do not share your data with third parties.

For Teachers

We offer six stories about freedom of choice under conditions of unfreedom for classroom use (in Russian).

We would be very grateful for feedback from history and Russian as a foreign language teachers.