The Story of the Baltic University

The film tells the incredible story of a university created shortly after the Second World War by refugees of the three Baltic Countries. They started with nothing, in a city which was in ruins and yet they managed.

In the summer of 1945, refugee academics from the Baltic countries, facing restricted access to German universities, decided to establish their own institution to continue higher education in exile.

With support from the British Military Government and UNRRA, the university was organized in remarkably little time, formally opening in March 1946. It boasted 8 faculties and 17 departments.

The documentary The Story of the Baltic University by Helga Merits preserves this history through interviews with former students.