‘Spuren’ is the name of our photo competition, which highlights the diverse traces of the German language in Lithuania. Whether on street signs, in shops or in culture, German traces often shape the environment unconsciously. Your task: discover, photograph, describe – and share them with the public!

How it all began

The idea was conceived in 2021 by Dr Alexander Mionskowski, former DAAD lecturer at Vilnius University, and was revived in 2023 by the German-Baltic Future Foundation. The competition was an immediate success and was extended to all three Baltic countries in 2024. People interested in German from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania went in search of traces, documented their findings and submitted them to the jury.

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With the stationing of the German Tank Brigade 45 in Lithuania, German traces are even more present in everyday life. That is why we are continuing the initiative and inviting all teenagers and young adults up to the age of 35 to take part.