In September 2012, students from Altona Gymnasium in Hamburg, Germany, and Gymnasium Number 3 in Koszalin, Poland, came together for a transformative week of artistic exploration and historical reflection. The program took place at the Borne Sulinowo Memorial Site and the grounds of a former military camp, offering a profound backdrop to examine shared German-Polish history.

The experience began with a cultural exchange: a two-day stay in Koszalin and Kołobrzeg included school visits and time with Polish host families. Students then traveled to Borne Sulinowo, where they participated in an introductory lecture at the memorial site, laying the foundation for the collaborative work to come.

Under the guidance of artists from Hamburg, Koszalin, and Wrocław, the 14–19-year-old students immersed themselves in workshops on theater, dance, music, percussion, song, and film. Over just three days, these young creators developed a powerful program that was performed at both the Borne Sulinowo Memorial Site and the school in Koszalin.

The project centered on the layered history of Borne Sulinowo. Known as Groß Born before 1945, it served as a German military training facility and prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. From 1945 to 1992, it became a Soviet garrison town, only opening to the public after Poland regained its independence. Today, traces of its complex past remain in the ruins, graves, and abandoned buildings scattered throughout the city.

Students explored and interpreted three key locations: the remains of the prisoner-of-war camp, the ruins of the former German officers’ mess hall, and a Soviet-era army barracks. These spaces, marked by silence and memory, inspired their creative expressions and gave voice to the stories embedded in the walls and landscapes.

This unique encounter between German and Polish students, facilitated through art and education, embodied the mission of Sound in the Silence: to confront history, foster dialogue, and build understanding across borders.