Encounters

Commemorative events with speeches and wreath-laying ceremonies are held annually on 3 May at the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial and in Neustadt (Holstein). Events and short public tours are organised as part of these commemorations. At discussion events, there will be an opportunity to listen to survivors and relatives of former prisoners who have travelled from numerous countries and to ask questions.

The two-day forum "Future of Remembrance" takes place annually in November. It serves to promote international networking and dialogue. Descendants of former victims of Nazi persecution develop ideas and concepts together with young people, memorial centre staff, descendants of Nazi perpetrators and other interested parties in order to shape the memory of Nazi crimes in a meaningful and forward-looking way for future generations.

The regular meetings are aimed at second, third and fourth generation descendants of victims of Nazi persecution. Participants examine the family and public forms of remembrance of deportation and imprisonment and reflect on how they deal with their own family history. They will explore the tense relationship between private remembrance and the public remembrance culture, discuss current forms of remembrance and develop ideas for a sustainable future of remembrance of National Socialism.

Personal encounters with survivors of the concentration camps are an impactful opportunity to interest people in the fate of those persecuted by the National Socialists. Talks with contemporary witnesses are primarily aimed at school classes and youth groups, but are unfortunately no longer offered on a regular basis due to the advanced age of these people. We are increasing efforts to organize these talks with relatives so they can place as often as possible.

If you are interested in a talk with contemporary witnesses and relatives for school classes, please contact Ulrike Jensen:
Phone: +49 40 428131519
E-mail: ulrike.jensen@gedenkstaetten.hamburg.de

Printing workshops at the "Place of solidarity"

An initiative by relatives of former prisoners has resulted in the "Space to Remember" as a place of remembrance at the memorial site. Relatives design posters for this place in memory of their formerly imprisoned relatives. These posters can be printed in workshops with the support of memorial centre staff and displayed on specially created billboards. Commemoration can be experienced through the production of posters collaborative printing and is shared through the publicly accessible poster walls and printing plates.

The writing workshop is aimed at descendants of those persecuted by the Nazisand Nazi perpetrators who want to come to terms with their family history and publish their knowledge and takes place at irregular intervals. The aim is to write an article or a manuscript for a public lecture on the significance of family history during the Nazi era for life as a child or grandchild. The writing workshop also involves working on texts about the participants' family histories and reflecting on their motives for sharing them with the public.

The biannual spring and autumn one-day seminar on biographical approaches to family history/stories offers anyone interested help in researching the history of their own family. How can you research Nazi perpetrators, bystanders, followers and victims of Nazi persecution as well as places where crimes were committed in archives, on the internet, in databases and online catalogues? Participants will get to know the archive, library and exhibitions at the memorial centre.

If you are interested in the research and discussion seminar, please contact Carola Blaschke:
Phone: +49 40 428131522
E-mail: carola.blaschke@gedenkstaetten.hamburg.de

The two-day discussion seminar, which takes place every six months in spring and autumn, enables participants to take a closer look at Nazi perpetrators within their own families. In the seminar, descendants of perpetrators talk about how they dealt with the moral and familial legacy after 1945, about feelings of loyalty and disloyalty towards their own parents and grandparents, as well as about what research triggers in the family and how family history shapes one's own life.

Anyone interested in the research and discussion seminar should contact Carola Blaschke:
Phone: +49 40 428131522
E-mail: carola.blaschke@gedenkstaetten.hamburg.de

Youth exchange projects or work camps are organised at the memorial every year. The events are often linked to bi- or tri-national youth projects on country-specific aspects. There are also international projects. Every two years, the Hamburg Youth Fire Brigade organises a three-day meeting at the memorial site.

If you are interested in organising a youth meeting, please contact Ulrike Jensen:
Phone: +49 40 428131519
E-mail: ulrike.jensen@gedenkstaetten.hamburg.de