Hannah Garza, Mechelen, Belgium, January 2016
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Understanding the Recent Phenomena of Holocaust Remembrance in the Form of National Holocaust Museums and Memorials in Belgium, France, and Germany Hannah Elizabeth Garza Universiteit van Amsterdam Graduate School of Humanities A thesis submitted for the degree of Masters in Holocaust and Genocide Studies Spring 2017 !1 Abstract This thesis will focus on national Holocaust museums and memorials in Europe, in specific regards to the national Holocaust museums of Belgium and France, and the national Holocaust memorial of Germany. This dissertation will begin with a brief overview of the scholars used within each chapter, along with a discussion on the development of national Holocaust museums in Europe in the introduction chapter. Following the introduction, the first chapter will discuss the Kazerne Dossin Memorial Museum in Mechelen, Belgium. Chapter two will then cover the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris, France. Finally, chapter three will then focus on the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in conjunction with its underground information center in Berlin, Germany. This thesis will endeavor to explore the themes represented in each museum in relation to German compliance, and the role of the bystanders from each Nation. The goal is to understand how each of these national institutions discussed within the text, portray their involvement in the events of the Holocaust and Second World War by way of State compliance and the actions of their bystanders. Through the initiatives of the museum and memorials published catalogs, personal research conducted by on-site visitation to each of the institutions, and through the texts of Holocaust scholars such as James Young, Raul Hilberg, and Christopher Browning, this dissertation will explore the role in which national Holocaust museums and memorials in Europe narrate the history of the Holocaust in affiliation to their State, as well how these institutions contribute to Holocaust scholarship in regards to the information that is displayed within the museum, which addresses German complicity and State contribution to the events of the Holocaust. !2 Dedication I would like to dedicate this work to my Meamaw, Levonia Harthcock, without whom this thesis would not exist. Thank you for always supporting me, and more importantly for believing in me throughout this incredible journey. Like so many times before in my life, you saw to it that I was able to come on this remarkable journey and continued to support me every step of the way. I will never be able to put into words my deep gratitude for all that I owe you. I love you with all of my heart, and I could never begin to express my appreciation for everything you have done for me. You will forever be my motivation as I strive to achieve my dreams. For all of this, I thank you. I would also like to dedicate this thesis to my siblings, Ethan McGehee and Gabriela Garza, who inspire and encourage me to work hard and to be a role model worthy of your respect and love. I hope that one day you too will accomplish all that you seek to achieve. I love you both dearly. I dedicate this thesis to my family. Thank you for continuously supporting and encouraging me throughout every step of this journey. You instilled in me the strength to reach for the stars. Without your perpetual support I would not be where I am today. I hope I have made you proud. To my friends across the world: You have inspired me to believe in myself and to never surrender to defeat. Thank you for encouraging me throughout this journey, your constant support was an invaluable asset in the completion of this dissertation. !3 Acknowledgments I would first like to thank all the faculty and staff of the University of Amsterdam for their valuable contributions to the completion of this dissertation. The past two years have been an unforgettable journey, and the skills the University taught me will forever follow me. I would like to thank Professor Houwink ten Cate for ensuring that I was progressing, and for keeping me on course throughout this research and writing process. You have been an amazing mentor and an invaluable asset to me in writing this dissertation and in the program as a whole. Thank you for your patience and for guiding me through this process. I must also extend my heartfelt thanks to the UvA Graduate School of Humanities for being an incredible department full of motivating people who inspired me to strive to do my best. I am also immensely grateful to the staff of the UvA Library, who, through thick and thin, fostered an environment conducive to the pursuit of academic excellence. This course would not have been possible without the valuable sources of research material and support provided by the NIOD. For that, I feel fit to express my most genuine gratitude. To John Cabot University: You instilled in me the love for academia, and paved the way for me to succeed in both the academic world, and in life. For this, I will be eternally indebted to you. Thank you for teaching me, and thank you for always supporting me. To The Leo Baeck Program: Thank you for inspiring me to continue my research on historic Holocaust sites. It was a pleasure attending your program, a course which has continued to have a profound effect on my studies. I would also like to take this moment to acknowledge Dr. Laurence Schram from the Kazerne Dossin Memorial Museum, thank you for taking the time to meet with me, your time and knowledge played an invaluable role in the development of this dissertation. !4 Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………..………….…………………….…………… 2 Dedication.…………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Acknowledgments…………………………..…………………………….……………….. 4 Table of Contents………………….………..………………………………………….…… 5-6 List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………..……………. 7-8 Introduction: The Birth of National Holocaust Museums……….………..……….………… 9 Research Questions………………………………………………………………… 13 Methodology………………………………………………………………………. 14 Structure…………………………………………………………………………… 14 Chapter 1: Belgium: The Kazerne Dossin Museum……………………………………… 16 Development of the Kazerne Dossin Museum…………….……………………..… 17 Representation of Perpetrators: Belgian Compliance with the Germans……………. 21 The Belgian Victims of the Holocaust…………………………………………….… 26 Ordinary Belgian Bystanders………………………………………………………. 31 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 38 Chapter 2: France: The Mémorial de la Shoah…………………………………………….. 42 Development of the Mémorial de la Shoah……………………………………….. 43 Representation of Perpetrators: French Compliance with the Germans………………. 46 The French Victims of the Holocaust…………………………………………………. 51 Ordinary French Bystanders…………………………………………………………. 56 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………. 58 Chapter 3: Germany: The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe…………………….. 60 Development of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe…………………… 61 !5 Representation of Nazi German Perpetrators………………………………………. 70 The Murdered Jews of Europe………………………………………………………. 74 Ordinary German Bystanders………………………………………………………… 80 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………. 87 Conclusion: The Role of National Holocaust Museums Today………………………………. 90 Bibliography……………………………………………………………..…………..……… 102 !6 List of Abbreviations ADL: Anti-Defamation League AFP: Agence France-Presse AJB: Association des Juifs en Belgique {French} [OR] Jodenvereeiniguing van Belgie {Flemish} (Association of Belgian Jews) BKM: Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (German Federal Commission for Culture and Media Affairs) CDJ: Comité de Defense des Juifs (Jewish Defense Committee) CDJC: Centre de Documentation Juive Contemporaine (Center for Contemporary Jewish Documentation) CGQJ: Commissariat Général aux Questions Juives (General Commission on Jewish Affairs) DM: German Mark [OR] Deutsche Mark (Currency of Germany until it was replaced by the Euro in 1999.) EHRI: European Holocaust Research Infrastructure ERR: Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (The Reichsleiter Rosenberg Taskforce) FJO: Federation of Jewish Organizations FRG: Federal Republic of Germany [OR] West Germany GDR: German Democratic Republic [OR] East Germany GMF: Gruppenbezogene Menschenfeindlichkeit (Group Targeted Misanthropy) GTE: Groupes de Travailleurs Étrangers (Groups of Foreign Workers) HRH: His Royal Highness ICPC: International Criminal Police Commission IHRA: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance !7 JMDR: The Jewish Museum of Deportation and Resistance KBI: Katholiek Bureau voor Israël (Catholic Bureau for Israel) LSVD: Lesbian and Gay Federation of Germany NHM: National Holocaust Museums NIOD: Instituut voor Oorlogs, Holocaust en Genocidestudies (Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies) NSDAP: Nationalspzialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers Party) Normally referred to as the Nazi Party. A political party in Germany from 1933-1945. Propagandastaffel IIIB: German Propaganda Squadron RSHA: Reich Security Main Office Sipo-SD: The Sicherheitspolizei (Security Police) SNCF: Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Frençais (National Society of French Railways) [OR] (French National Railway Company) SS: Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) [OR] (Defense Corps) A paramilitary group created by Adolf Hitler in 1923 with the intentions of serving as his personal bodyguards. From 1929-1945 the group was controlled by Heinrich Himmler who then expanded the groups role and size. USHMM: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum VEVA: Verbond voor Economisch Verweer — Antwerpen (The Union for the Economic Defense) VNV: Vlaams Nationaal