The embassies of France and Germany in Ethiopia are set to celebrate the centenary of the armistice of the First World War (11th of November 1918).
The embassies commemorate through two events organized in Addis Ababa, starting in September 2018. The commemorations of First World War centenary started on 28th, July 2014, in many participating countries, and will end this year, on the 11th of November 2018.
A century after this tragic war, the painful memories of the 40 million dead, wounded or disappeared are a remarkable opportunity to highlight the exemplary reconciliation achieved since then between the nations involved in this war, in particular through the European construction.
The two major events the embassies have organized are:
- On September 5, 2018 at 06:00 PM, at the National Theater, the screening of the film “Merry Chrismas” by Christian Carion (2005), addressing fraternity and humanity among the soldiers of the First World War, will be an opportunity to debate on the theme of reconciliation. This film session is free and open to the public. It is in original version with English subtitles.
- In September, an educational project will be launched with the students of the Franco-Ethiopian high-school Guebre-Mariam and of the Deutsche Botschaftsschule (German Embassy School), to share a cross-view of the history of this war. Thematic workshops will be organized and their conclusions presented by the students during an international meeting, held on November 10th, the day before the commemoration of the armistice.