Memorials in transition: New challenges for the culture of remembrance

Memorials in transition: New challenges for the culture of remembrance

Memorial work is facing new challenges, which will be discussed in an upcoming public lecture series at the University of Vechta. A total of twelve events will start on April 10, 2025 under the title “Remembrance and historical awareness. New challenges for memorial work”, organized by Prof. Dr. Eugen Kotte and Hannah Sandstede are organized. The Lower Saxony Memorials Foundation is cooperating to provide a comprehensive overview of the current requirements in memorial work.

The lecture series will take place in lecture hall Q 15 every Thursday at 6 p.m. and will cover topics such as the different versions of memorials, current discussions, design approaches and pedagogical concepts. From a historical perspective, memorial sites in Germany have been an important initiative to come to terms with the Nazi past and promote historical awareness since the 1950s. The change in memorial work is increasingly being shaped by social tasks and institutional framework conditions.

Coming to terms with the past and modern challenges

The challenges include, among other things, increasing anti-Semitism and right-wing extremist efforts, which influence the framework of memorial work. This becomes particularly clear when one considers other commemorative events, such as the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust on January 27, 2025, which is celebrated in Berlin with the lit candle at the memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. This monument was inaugurated in 2005 and is a reminder of unspeakable suffering.

The commemoration of the victims of National Socialism also brings with it debates about the relevance of monuments and memorials. One of the objects currently being discussed is the monument to the Sinti and Roma persecuted under Nazi ideology, which has been threatened by an S-Bahn route since 2020. The “Citizens on the Move” monument in front of the Humboldt Forum is also confronted with political and financial problems. These situations illustrate the ongoing struggle for visibility and recognition of the memory of the different victim groups.

The meaning of memorials in a social context

Memorials play a central role in the culture of remembrance, which is subject to constant change due to the heterogeneity of society. The exchange about terms such as “historicization” and “universalization” in memorial work shows the challenges of coming to terms with the Nazi past. There is a need to create current references to historical events in order to maintain the relevance of remembrance. There is increasing discussion about how the lessons of history can be preserved for future generations.

Ultimately, the approach of requiring mandatory visits to Nazi memorial sites shows a social consensus, but it also raises critical questions about the actual effectiveness and emotional impact of visitors. Memorial work should therefore not only be seen as a look back at history, but as an actively designed process that encourages people to deal with their own present.

The first highlight of the lecture series will be the opening lecture by Prof. Dr. Volkhard Knigge will be on April 10, 2025, who will deal with the current work of the memorials. The following lectures will also deal with contemporary topics, such as the design principles in exhibitions. Further information about the series is available on the University of Vechta website.

Memorials act as important places of learning and reflection that make it possible to address various questions about the Nazi past and promote understanding of the crimes of National Socialism. Employees in these institutions are required to work both reflexively and professionally in order to meet the demands of a changing society.