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| EDITION 12/2023 |
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Dear Readers,
Nearly 30 million people in Germany support the common good as volunteers– especially in view of December 5, the International Volunteer Day, we would like to thank them. Voluntary commitment to respectful, democratic coexistence is a crucial factor for the cohesion and continued existence of our open society – especially in these critical times. Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, an increase in antisemitic hatred and violence has been observed around the world – including Germany. We must never accept this current situation and take action together!
It is a disgrace that 85 years after the November pogroms, Jews in Germany are still under threat and cannot feel safe. How can the EVZ Foundation now help with specific funding and activities? Annette Schavan, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the EVZ Foundation, responds to these and other questions in this newsletter.
The Civil Society Antisemitism Situation Report of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation illustrates how attacks by right-wing extremists on memorial sites related to the National Socialist era and the culture of remembrance are currently reaching a new dimension. Prof. Jens-Christian Wagner, Director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation, even speaks of a "climate change in the politics of remembrance" and explains in our newsletter section "No Place for Hate" if and how we can prevent such a development.
Also read how you can get involved locally for survivors of National Socialist persecution, how you can help shape the culture of remembrance for tomorrow in a digital network and how young people in Armenia as well as Azerbaijan are dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
With that in mind: Stay or become active with us!
Dr. Andrea Despot
CEO of the EVZ Foundation
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ISRAEL
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Acute Emergency Aid for Survivors of National Socialist Persecution
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Many survivors of National Socialist persecution are suffering the consequences of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7. In southern Israel alone, over 700 survivors had to be partially evacuated or are now living in shelters – what they now need is immediate support. The EVZ Foundation is therefore working closely with Israeli partners to help survivors on the ground with emergency aid projects. The Foundation has made an additional 100,000 euros available for this purpose. With this support, JDC-ESHEL and Foundation for the Welfare of Holocaust Victims among other organizations are taking care of survivors of National Socialist persecution on site. Among other things, they organize food parcels, emergency kits as well as home visits with volunteers and professional staff.
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Overview of support for Israel 
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COMMITMENT TO SURVIVORS OF NATIONAL SOCIALIST PERSECUTION
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Close to People, against Forgetting
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The fading of historical eyewitnesses is a major challenge for our active culture of remembrance. New ways and forms of living memory are becoming more important. But there are still survivors of National Socialist persecution, and some of them live in Germany! How can their stories be preserved and survivors supported on their final journeys? Why is it important to join forces locally? Experts as well as practitioners talked about this at a networking meeting for projects for survivors in local civil societies launched by the EVZ Foundation. The discussions also focused on the consequences of the current crises as well as transgenerational trauma.
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Find out about backgrounds now
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| PUBLICATIONS |
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| Save the Date: Launching the Online Magazine "MEET UP! Youth for Partnership" |
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| Let's shape the future: In the first edition of the online magazine MEET UP!, young activists and experts talk about how the Russian war against Ukraine has changed the involvement of young people on site and how young people in Armenia and Azerbaijan are dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Also: How can international youth encounters strengthen local civil societies? With the funding program MEET UP! Youth for Partnership of the EVZ Foundation and the Federal Foreign Office, we initiate international projects for youth exchange, train specialists and prepare young people in Central and Eastern Europe for engagement and participation. |
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Read here from December 6  |
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| ANTI-DISCRIMINATION |
| Writing against Exclusion! – An Award for Reporting that Demonstrates Sensitivity to Discrimination |
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| The most important tool for journalists is language. How is an event reported on, how is a person described? The way in which events are discussed has a major impact on how they are perceived. The aim is to report accurately and precisely, without reproducing stereotypes or excluding groups of people. This is why the EVZ Foundation presents awards to school projects that address these issues as part of the competition for school newspapers organized by federal states und Jugendpresse Deutschland e.V. Apply now for numerous awards up to January 15, 2024! |
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| More information |
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| MEMO YOUTH STUDY |
| Anne Frank Ambassadors in Discussion |
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| How, what, and in which ways do young people in Germany remember the National Socialist era? The MEMO Youth Study on the culture of remembrance, carried out by Bielefeld University and funded by the EVZ Foundation, gives some answers. What do young people themselves think about the results? How can the findings of the MEMO Youth Study be discussed with young people on site, for example at memorial sites? The Anne Frank Ambassadors are currently developing a workshop concept for the study with the help of the Anne Frank Center and the EVZ Foundation. The young activists will discuss the results of the survey and explore how to engage in an exchange with young people in relation to the MEMO Youth Study on the culture of remembrance in Germany. At this point: Congratulations – to all the 40 young people who were appointed as Anne Frank Ambassadors at the end of September for their commitment to the memory of National Socialist crimes and democratic coexistence! |
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| Discover the results of the MEMO Youth Study now and join the discussion |
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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
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Support for Survivors of the Genocide against the Roma in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova
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Until recently, survivors of the genocide against the Roma were among the "forgotten victims" of National Socialist persecution. There is hardly any support for them, whether in their home countries or internationally. The EVZ Foundation is increasing its commitment for survivors of the Roma genocide in Central and Eastern Europe. The "Latcho Dives" (which means "good day" in the Romanes language) funding program will continue to support communities in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in the future. In the context of the Russian war against Ukraine, the aim is to provide humanitarian aid on site whilst strengthening the community's self-organizations at the same time.
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Find out more now 
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DIGITAL CULTURE OF REMEMBRANCE
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"Digital Collective Memory": Shaping New Ways of Remembrance Together
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The radical digital transformation has an impact on our cultures of remembrance in several ways – some of which are hard to predict as artificial intelligence is being used. The aim of the English language platform Digital Collective Memory is to help shape this change and bring together committed people who deal with digital formats of the culture of remembrance. Since 2021, new ways of dealing with the history of National Socialism have been explored and discussed by over 330 experts from across the world. These include employees from cultural and educational institutions, practitioners, designers as well as members of the tech community.
The Digital Collective Memory network was launched together by the EVZ Foundation and iRights.Lab. It offers a safe and central place where committed people can exchange information about digital tools for historical-political education and support each other in their plans and projects. It also offers new insights, ideas and points for discussion and make them accessible to the wider public. Questions from the community are frequently answered in the "Expert Consultation Hours": How can videos be produced and embedded to impart knowledge with a low threshold? What role do emotions play in the (re)presentation of history in social media? And how does the way young people use social media impact their perception of history?
You’re interested? A series of events on success factors in historical digital project work is currently underway! The next one will take place December 14.
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Register now and become part of the community
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It is a life story that could fill several lifetimes. Nadija Slesarewa survived Stalinist terror including the Holodomor, her deportation by the German authorities at the age of 13, the racist National Socialist terror in the Stutthof concentration camp, NS forced labor as well as the tyranny against so-called "enemies of the people" in the Soviet Union after the war. The 93-year-old Ukrainian was a guest at the EVZ Foundation last week and talked about her life story. One thing is certain: There was not enough time.
Following the persecution and hardship of her childhood and youth, Nadija Slesarewa went to university, completed her doctorate and then married; she has been working with her two children for decades to commemorate the forced laborers of National Socialism. Together with her daughter, she has collected thousands of memories since the 1990s and published them in six books – her biography was also staged by the Dokumentartheater Berlin. As a pensioner, the 93-year-old founded the women's center "Nadija" (which means "hope") for victims of totalitarian regimes; she is involved in an association for survivors of National Socialism and was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2019 for her tireless efforts as a historical eyewitness.
After the expansion of the Russian war against Ukraine in February 2022, she initially did not want to leave Kyiv. Because of the Russian attacks, Nadija Slesarewa, her husband as well as three other family members finally had to flee Ukraine for Germany – amongst others with the help of the Aid Network for Survivors of Nazi Persecution in Ukraine.
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Support survivors of National Socialist persecution in Ukraine now 
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Annette Schavan, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the EVZ Foundation
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Ms. Schavan, as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the EVZ Foundation – how do you view the world situation since the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7?
October 7 is a turning point with far-reaching implications. Hamas has perpetrated a pogrom and wants to eradicate Judaism. The brutality with which people were murdered goes beyond our imagination. I am deeply horrified by the hatred against Jews that is now evident worldwide. This makes it terribly clear that the learnings from the Shoah are being rejected. The reports of hatred against Jewish people at elite universities in the USA, demonstrations in Germany involving clear antisemitic messages, Jews who no longer feel safe on the streets of European cities, travel warnings for Jews – these are all devastating developments. They will keep us busy for a long time and now demand clear language, civil courage and solidarity with Jewish people. Ultimately, an international intellectual debate on the future of civilizations as well as the ethical constitution of religiously and culturally diverse modern societies is needed. We cannot accept a spiral of silence!
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Read the whole interview now
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"Even as private individuals, we can oppose the normalization of extreme right-wing propaganda in everyday life by objecting loudly and clearly when someone incites racism on the tram or at a family event and whenever someone plays down the impact of National Socialist crimes. Civil courage is needed. This may be tedious and it takes effort. However, without opposition in everyday life, we will not be able to prevent the extreme right from gaining cultural hegemony in more and more regions." This was the answer given by the historian Prof. Dr. Jens-Christian Wagner in response to the question of how we can protect ourselves against right-wing violence. In a discussion for the "No Place for Hate" section, the Director of the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora Memorials Foundation spoke about the increasing attacks on places of remembrance, civil courage and a "climate change in the politics of remembrance".
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dekoder.org
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"You could die here and nobody would notice"
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Melitopol has been under Russian control since the expansion of the Russian war against Ukraine in February 2022. Dekoder shares istories' extensive research showing how the city became "Europe's largest prison". The Russian authorities are said to have abducted and tortured hundreds of civilians. Polina Ushwak spoke to people who were victims of this terror. Please note: The text contains drastic depictions of torture and violence.
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Read now
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RBB
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Learning from History. Dealing with Antisemitism in the Police and the Judiciary
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"Jewish life does not exist in a free form, but behind walls and fences, in a state of siege. This is a disgrace," emphasized the author and lawyer Dr. Rone Steinke during the panel discussion "Aus der Geschichte lernen. Der Umgang mit Antisemitismus in Polizei und Justiz" (Learning from History. Dealing with Antisemitism in the Police and Judiciary), which was organized by the EVZ Foundation in cooperation with the Topography of Terror Foundation on November 20. The rbb reports on the discussion. The experts Dr. Ronen Steinke, Sarah Friedek, Winfrid Wenzel and Prof. Dr. Ulrike Lembke showed the extent to which trivializing antisemitism leads to suffering for those who are affected, also discussing challenges with current manifestations of antisemitism for security authorities and possible solutions.
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Listen now
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www.hagalil.com
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Never Again Is Now?
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The historian and journalist Martin Jander looks at the commemoration of the pogroms of November 9, 1938 and compares the current symbols and politics of remembrance with previous years. The article critically analyzes the German government's reactions to the Hamas pogrom of October 7, 2023, the current culture of remembrance and the speeches by Josef Schuster and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on antisemitism as well as the issue of safety for Jews in Germany. It also presents proposals from Jewish associations for changing German domestic and foreign policy.
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Read now
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DECEMBER 4, 6 P.M., BERLIN
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Musical Heritage of the Roma
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In the Education Agenda NS-Injustice project "Erinnerungen an Samudaripen im musikalischen Erbe der Rom:nja" (Memories of Samudaripen in the musical heritage of Roma) by RomaniPhen e.V., children and young people interpret the musical heritage of the Roma. Under the direction of Dejan Jovanović and Tayo Awosusi-Onutor the band and the choir interpret traditional Roma music with a contemporary reference.
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Be there on site now
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DECEMBER 7/8, STRAUSBERG/BERLIN
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Musical Readings about the Theresienstadt Ghetto
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How was it possible to work artistically in a place of horror like Theresienstadt? The project "Ich wandre durch Theresienstadt" (I’m Walking through Theresienstadt) of the Education Agenda NS-Injustice allows students and teachers to engage with the music of imprisoned composers such as Pavel Haas, Hans Krása, Viktor Ullmann, Gideon Klein as well as texts by the lyricist Ilse Weber from the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Accompanied by artists, workshops and public concerts will take place on December 7 in Strausberg and December 8 in Berlin.
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Listen now free of charge
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DECEMBER 14, 2 P.M., ONLINE
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Success factors for digital formats in historical-political education
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Which means of historical-educational work are working well in the digital realm? What are possible criteria for success? In the event series of the Digital Collective Memory (DCM) network, the platform's community frequently discusses success stories as well as their own projects. The aim is to identify overarching success criteria for digital applications in historical-educational work and to enter a direct exchange with experts.
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Register now
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| NEWSLETTER 01/2024 |
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| Our next edition will be published at the beginning of January! |
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| At the beginning of November, you can once again expect the newsletter on the Education Agenda NS-Injustice: Among other topics, we will be reporting on the restitution of Nazi-looted property and the commemoration of 27 January. Stay tuned! |
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| All editions at a glance |
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Stiftung Erinnerung,
Verantwortung und Zukunft
Friedrichstraße 200
10117 Berlin, Germany
T +49 (30) 25 92 97-0
F +49 (30) 25 92 97-11
Website |
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Responsible:
Dr. Andrea Despot
Editorial:
Hanna Komornitzyk, Katrin Kowark, Thomas Stein, Sophie Ziegler, Charlotte Detig
Image Credits:
Anat Eshar, Katarzyna Mazur, Gio Matchavariani, Viktor Tschowka, DCM, Katrin Kowark, Laurence Chaperon, Jens Meyer | Universität Jena |
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The editorial team welcomes your opinion on the newsletter and will be happy to answer any questions. We also help with any issues you might encounter: newsletter@stiftung-evz.de
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| © Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft, 2023 |
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