As the eyewitness generation passes away, the question of how we can preserve and pass on the memory of the horrors of the Nazi era is becoming increasingly urgent. The Arolsen Archives use innovative digital technologies to ensure that the stories of the victims of Nazi persecution remain accessible, visible, and alive – not only for young people today, but also for future generations. We aim to enable young people in particular to develop a deeper understanding of the importance and enduring value of democracy and human rights.
Two examples of this digital approach are our #everynamecounts and #StolenMemory initiatives.
#everynamecounts
everynamecounts is a crowdsourcing project that invites people all over the world to help digitize the names and fates of victims of Nazi persecution. No technical expertise or prior knowledge of the historical context is required – anyone who takes part can make a valuable contribution to preserving the memory of the persecutees, ensuring that their names are not forgotten and saving their stories for posterity. Participants gain a deeper understanding of historical events along with a sense of the value and importance of civic engagement.
#StolenMemory
StolenMemory focuses on returning personal belongings to the families of victims of Nazi persecution. The Arolsen Archives hold thousands of objects that belonged to concentration camp inmates. We work with volunteers to locate the objects’ rightful owners or their descendants. This project adds a personal dimension to digital remembrance culture by not only honoring the memory of the victims, but also forging direct connections between the past and the present.
These projects make an invaluable contribution to our archival work. They demonstrate how digital technologies and public participation can revolutionize the way we document and remember history. By recruiting volunteers from around the world, we are not only expanding our capacity to capture and catalog data, but also creating and empowering a global community dedicated to remembrance and education. As a result, our projects help to spread awareness of the importance of remembrance and lay the foundation for an ongoing engagement with the history of Nazism that goes beyond mere commemoration.
Finally, by launching these initiatives and applying a range of other innovative approaches to digital remembrance culture, we are also demonstrating how modern technologies can be used to understand, communicate, and carry forward lessons from the past into today’s world and beyond. By combining historical knowledge, digital technology, and civic engagement, we are creating inclusive and dynamic forms of remembrance that can play a significant role in protecting human rights and strengthening democracy.