The question ‘when did “the Holocaust” end?’ is rarely if ever asked, despite it being of crucial importance. The reason for this is understandable: within our school textbooks and our cultural memory, there is a common narrative whereby the genocide of the Jews is understood as ending in 1945 with the death of Hitler, the liberation of the camps, and the victory of the Allied powers. Furthermore, this story is visually illustrated with powerful images of liberating soldiers, emaciated survivors, and scenes of jubilation.

The reality, however, was far more complicated. The legacies of the Holocaust were many and multiple. They were personal and societal. Life, in the broadest sense, did indeed “go on” after the fall of the Third Reich, but it was fundamentally different precisely because of what had taken place in the ghettos, camps, and killing sites of Nazi-occupied Europe. This was especially true for those who had experienced these events first-hand and had survived, and for their families. It was also true for wider European society.

Broaching the numerous ways in which the Holocaust cast long and indelible shadows over post-war Europe is challenging for teachers and students. This workshop is designed to address these challenges, and prepare teachers to examine these themes for Holocaust Memorial Day 2017. Participants will explore for themselves research-informed classroom materials especially created to deal with the issues of the legacy of the Holocaust. They will encounter a variety of resources and different pedagogical approaches, all of which provide practical routes into teaching about the aftermath of the Holocaust with students.

Programme:

• 16:15 – Registration & tea/coffee reception
• 16:30 – ‘How can life go on? Exploring the Holocaust’s legacy’ workshop
• 18:00 – Close, light refreshments

The workshop will be led by:

Andy Pearce & Nicola Wetherall

UCL Centre for Holocaust Education