The book “die Heimat trägt man im Herzen”  (The homeland is where ones heart is) is a collaborative project, written between  high school  students from Germany and  Bulgaria.  It outlines diverse ways and waves of enforced migration during the Second World War based on perspectives and memories of migrants. The book is written in German and Bulgarian simultaneously which makes it possible to use it in both countries.

It is divided into three parts which focus on the following countries. 1.  East Prussia and Silsia 2.  Sudeten Germany and 3. Bulgaria. Every part consists of similar elements, referring to traditional recipes, poetry, and songs. This in addition to interviews with contemporary witnesses and news paper articles gives the book a very personalized and easy accessible character.

The book was sponsored by the EVZ-Erinnerung , Verantwortung, Zukunft (Recollection, Responsibility, Future) and Europeans for Peace. The EVZ focuses especially on the period during the 2nd WW. Its aim is to advocate the debate and examination of this period therefore the focus is mainly on the victim’s experience. The  Europeans for Peace is a funding program for international youth projects which encourages active engagement of young people in society based on historical awareness. The focus hereby is on Human rights projects focused on Partnership and joint projects between schools and NGO’s which cooperate in the areas of Germany, East-and –Central Europe or Israel.

The publication has been introduced to during the EUROCLIO/ Matra project  European Dialogues, a Cultural Rainbow for the Future- An Inclusive and International Perspective on the Learning and Teaching of History in Bulgaria by the Bulgarian History Teachers Association.