At the Meißner meeting in 1963 - a youth camp and traditional festival, and an occasion for critical self-reflection and debate over the definition of their democratic position - young people from the youth movement associations of the post-war years met with participants of the Free German Youth Day of 1913 - a once-in-a-century event. Against the background of the 'second founding phase of the Federal Republic of Germany' (zweite Gründungsphase der Bundesrepublik'), the 50-year anniversary marked a turning point in the debate over the influential Meißner Rule. The present volume documents the participation of youth associations in the tradition of the historic youth movement in the societal opening of the 1960s from an experiential and generational historical perspective.
Dr. Jürgen Reulecke ist Professor em. für Zeitgeschichte an der Universität Gießen.
