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Toward a Globalised Memory of The TOWARD A GLOBALISED MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST: AN EXPLORATION OF THE EXHIBITION SPACES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES AT FOUR SITES OF REMEMBRANCE IN POST-UNIFICATION BERLIN A Thesis Submitted to the University of Manchester for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2015 Michelle Magin School of Arts, Languages and Cultures TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 9 Literature Review 11 Addressing the Gaps 17 Theoretical Framework 18 Defining Globalised Memory 28 Methodology 41 Research Aims and Objectives 45 1. The House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial and Educational Centre: Working Towards a Globalised Understanding of the Holocaust 1.1 Introduction 49 1.2 Historical Background 52 1.3 Exhibition Spaces and Visitor Demographics 64 1.4 Educational Programmes 89 1.5 Conclusions 113 2. The Ravensbrück Memorial and the Sachsenhausen Memorial Museum: Exploring the Effects of Globalising Forces upon Memorial Spaces 2.1 Introduction: Scope and Aims 115 2.2 Historical Background 118 2.3 The Displacement of Nationalism 136 2.4 Contests, Commercialisation, and Hierarchies 154 2.5 Conclusions 194 3. The Information Centre of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: From Communicative to Institutional Memory 3.1 Introduction 197 3.2 Historical Background 199 3.3 Photographs, Film, and Commemorative Practices 208 3.4 The Survivor Testimony Archive 220 3.5 Holocaust Educational Programmes and Seminars 249 3.6 Conclusions 270 CONCLUSIONS 273 BIBLIOGRAPHY 279 Word count: 79,985 2 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: René Graetz's Befreiung at Sachsenhausen (Author, 2012) 126 Figure 2: Will Lammert's Tragende at Ravensbrück (Author 2012) 126 Figure 3: Walter Womacka, Internationaler Widerstandskampf gegen den Faschismus (Author, 2012) 140 Figure 4: “Heart with Barbed Wire,” Greek Memorial Room (Author, 2012) 142 Figure 5: Tragende (Close-up, Author, 2012) 142 Figure 6: Two plate glass ‘windows’ on display at the Ravensbrück Permanent Exhibition (Author, 2013) 150 Figure 7: Book of the Dead at “The Place of Names,” Ravensbrück (Author, 2012) 152 Figure 8: Children standing beside the sign (right) which reads: “Neutral Zone: We will without warning shoot,” Sachsenhausen rollcall yard (Author, 2013) 169 Figure 9: Photographs of a portion of the original camp wall at Sachsenhausen, which collapsed in August 2013 (Author) 176 Figure 10: Soviet Garages at the Uckermark Camp (Author, 2012) 182 Figure 11: Site of the former Soviet Garages (Author, 2013) 182 Figure 12: Derelict Structures outside the main memorial grounds at Sachsenhausen (Author, 2013) 183 Figure 13: Signs, placards and information box put up by the Uckermark Work camp (Author, 2013) 190 Figure 14: Impromptu exhibition before the Siemens forced labour camp (Author, 2013) 191 3 ABSTRACT Since unification the memorial landscape of Berlin and its surrounding territories has shifted and expanded exponentially. The majority of this change has occurred within the past ten years, as commemoration of the Holocaust and educational programmes on the National Socialist period have become not only prevalent, but a necessary and expected contribution to the shaping of German identity and memorial culture. In the past decade memorial museums and sites of remembrance, such as the House of the Wannsee Conference, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the former Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück concentration camps, have contributed to and been impacted by the formation of a globalised memory of the Holocaust. As major and internationally renowned institutions, these sites offer unique insight into the nature of current memorial culture and recent approaches to memorialising and commemorating the past. Through an analysis of their exhibition spaces (online, permanent, temporary) and educational programmes (guided tours, seminars, and workshops), this dissertation will attempt to identify how these sites contribute to the formation of a globalised memory. Though each of these four sites possesses a different connection to the history of the Holocaust, and their own alternative approach to presenting and commemorating this history; this variation will provide insight into the divergent landscape of memorialisation within Germany, while also highlighting the common approaches, and practical issues that are of concern to these institutions. Overall the main aim of this thesis will be to demonstrate how memorialisation of the Holocaust, at sites within Berlin and Brandenburg, is no longer defined and shaped solely by the nation state, but rather is influenced by and contributes to international trends of remembrance and a globalised memory of the Holocaust. 4 DECLARATION I declare that no portion of the work referred to in this thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other institute of learning. 5 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I.) The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. II.) Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. III.) The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. IV.) Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=487), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.manchester.ac.uk/library/aboutus/regulations) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the patience and generous support of my supervisor Cathy Gelbin. I would like to thank her for her sage advice and guidance over these past four years. In addition I am indebted to my co-supervisor, Daniel Langton, and my advisor, Jean-Marc Dreyfus for their numerous comments, recommendations, and insights. I would like to thank the School of Arts, Languages, and Cultures and the German Studies Department at the University of Manchester for funding my research, and providing me with a studentship to pursue my studies. I am also very grateful to the School for providing me with funds to conduct my field research. Furthermore, I would like to warmly thank the German History Society (GHS) for repeatedly funding my travels to Berlin and Fürstenberg. Finally, I am indebted to the educational and administrative staff at the House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial and Educational Centre, Ravensbrück Memorial, Sachsenhausen Memorial Museum, and Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. In particular I would like to thank Lore Kleiber, Wolf Kaiser, Matthias Heyl, Martin Schellenberg, Grischa Zeller, Adam Kerpel-Fronius, Timothy Tolsdorff, and Daniel Baranowski for giving up their time to help me better understand the educational programmes at these sites. Furthermore, I would like to thank Lore Kleiber for reading, and providing valuable feedback on, a portion of my thesis. I would like to particularly thank my friends in Manchester and abroad, as well as my family, for all of the support they have provided over these turbulent years. 7 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to P.L.J. 8 INTRODUCTION Since unification the memorial landscape of Germany has shifted and expanded exponentially. In recent years, the states of Berlin and Brandenburg alone have seen the establishment of numerous memorials and institutions of remembrance. These have included sites dedicated to the murdered Sinti and Roma (2012),1 the victims of the T-4 ‘Euthanasia’ Operation (2014),2 those killed during the death march through the Belower forest (2010),3 the Jews deported from Grunewald station (2006),4 and the rescue efforts of Otto Weidt (2006),5 to name but a few. Additionally, older memorial sites have undergone extensive renovations and updates, and existing projects have dramatically expanded in scope, as in the case of the Topography of Terror 6 and the Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) Project, respectively. 7 Commemoration of the Holocaust and educational programmes on the National Socialist period, have not only become prevalent, but also a fundamental part of German memory and identity. 1 “Denkmal für die im Nationalsozialismus ermordeten Sinti und Roma Europas,” accessed 22 September 2015, http://www.stiftung-denkmal.de/denkmaeler/denkmal- fuer-die-ermordeten-sinti-und-roma.html#c952. 2 “Gedenk- und Informationsort für die Opfer der
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