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Where do we begin?

One of the most challenging aspects of creating a comprehensive narrative of the history of the Holocaust is figuring out where to begin!

While collective in its nature, experiences differed dramatically depending on the gender, age, nationality, state, socio-economic standing, political or religious affiliations of the individual involved.

Historians have even debated the starting dates of the Holocaust – was it in the early 20s when Hitler and his true believers start publicly campaigning for the Nazi cause? Is it when the Nazi Party is elected into power in 1933?  Or is it only once the Second World War begins and active murder commences?

Here at the Museum, much of our policy making  has been influenced by the Holocaust Survivors themselves. It was they who (under the auspices of the Australian Association of Holocaust Survivors and Descendants) were responsible for collecting the first objects and are the living witnesses who speak directly to visitors.

The new exhibition has given us the opportunity to  include the voices and testimony of those who were not part of the early  establishment of the Museum.  This includes the testimony of Child Survivors, who up until the late 90s felt that their experiences in hiding or fleeing their country of birth did not warrant recognition. The new exhibition will see these narratives represented more fully.

Child Survivor, Beate Hammett (nee Beer) who traveled from Germany to England as part of the Kindertransport.

Child Survivor, Beate Hammett (nee Beer) who traveled from Germany to England as part of the Kindertransport.

A shift in historiography has also been reflected. This is most apparent when it comes to the narrative around resistance.  Early accounts suggested that Jewish people did not resist – a belief based on the fact that few resistance efforts had been successful and had contributed little to stopping the near annihilation of the Jewish Community in Europe.

As more Survivors have come forward, resistance has been re-defined to include acts of spiritual or social resistance – finding ways and means to practice their religion, maintaining their customs and sense of self despite the obstacles placed before them.

The idea of ‘Amidah’ or Standing Up will be explored and reflected more fully through the objects and artefacts in the new exhibition.

Author: Marie Bonardelli, Education Officer.

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