Historical Memory of World War II and Germany’s Public Diplomacy

A comprehensive analysis of the role of historical memory of World War II in Germany’s public diplomacy is provided. The relevance of the topic lies in Germany’s unique experience of turning to memory politics for in-ternational rehabilitation through taking responsibility for Nazi crimes. The aim of the study is to identify the features and mechanisms through which historical memory of World War II is integrated into Germany's public diplomacy strategy, which aims to create a positive image of the state abroad by defending democratic values. Based on legal documents and contemporary scientific publications, the evolution of approaches to historical memory in Germany from the post-war period to the present day is analyzed, as well as their connections to the stages of its public diplomacy development. It is concluded that historical memory of World War II, based on a culture of remembrance and a politics of guilt, contributed to the formation of a multifaceted and generally positive image of the state, which today is associated with reliability, quality, cultural richness, and a conscious responsibility for history, particularly thru the activities of Germany's public diplomacy intermediary institutions. The study conducted allows us to understand the relationship between historical memory and German public diplomacy in building the image of the state abroad and to identify problematic aspects of this interaction.