The 20th century brought Europe two world wars, devastating communities and fracturing trust between nations. Yet even during conflict, music acted as resistance, solidarity, and survival.
World War I: Songs of Protest and Remembrance
WWI produced iconic anti-war songs that remain influential today:
Music also fostered moments of peace, most famously during the 1914 Christmas Truce, when British and German troops sang carols across trenches before meeting in no-man’s-land.
World War II: Music as Resistance and Courage
During WWII, music served both oppression and liberation.
In occupied France, the song “Le Chant des Partisans” became the unofficial anthem of the resistance. Its melody spread across Europe, uniting those fighting fascism.
Meanwhile, in Nazi concentration camps, prisoners secretly performed classical and folk music to preserve dignity and identity. The women’s orchestra at Auschwitz, though exploited by guards, helped members survive. In Terezín (Theresienstadt), Jewish musicians composed symphonies, children’s operas and choral works—acts of defiance through creativity.
Post-War Reconciliation: Music as Healing
After 1945, music played a decisive role in rebuilding European identity. The founding of youth orchestras—such as the Jeunesses Musicales (founded 1945)—brought together young musicians from former enemy states.
Many report that performing with peers from across Europe eroded stereotypes more effectively than political meetings ever could.
Modern Legacy
Today’s remembrance ceremonies, peace concerts, and interfaith choirs continue this tradition. Europe honours its history by using music not only to mourn the past but to prevent its repetition.
MyPEACE contributes to this legacy by promoting creative expression as a tool for healing, dialogue and transformation—values deeply rooted in Europe's post-war reconstruction.
