The H-Files Project
Preserving memory and historical knowledge in wartime Ukraine
Letters, photos, identity documents: much of the documentary evidence of Nazi persecution in Ukraine is not held in state archives, but in private homes, small museums, and local institutions. These so-called micro-archives are under acute threat – from war, weather conditions, and a lack of resources.
Scattered fragments, endangered archives: why H-Files was created
Ukraine was one of the countries most badly affected by Nazi occupation, deportations, and mass crimes during the Second World War. Nearly five million people were deported from the Soviet Union and forced to work in Nazi Germany – about half of them were from Ukraine. They included men, women, and young people. Ukraine became a focus of the Holocaust at the same time: around 1.5 million of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis were killed there. In total, Ukraine lost more than ten million people during the war.
The stories of many of those affected have survived only in fragments, scattered across numerous archives, documents, and personal memories.
The H-Files project responds to the threats facing small Ukrainian archives with practical support, international cooperation, and digital preservation. Together with the Ukrainian NGO After Silence and other partners, the Arolsen Archives are working hard to protect these unique documents and make them accessible in the long term. By the way, the letter “H” in the project’s name stands for History. The “H-Files” project is supported by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the Gerda Henkel Foundation.
Intensive work on micro-archives began in 2023 in collaboration with the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI). Initial research in the Kherson region soon revealed how vulnerable many of these collections are, regardless of whether they are held by small museums, local initiatives, or private individuals. Resources for conservation are often lacking, digital backups are non-existent, and there is no institutional support.
Russia is deliberately weaponizing the destruction of cultural heritage. H-Files is one of the ways we’re responding – it’s a practical project rooted in solidarity and international support.
Hanna Lehun, research associate at the Arolsen Archives
Numerous micro-archives in the Kherson region, for example, were systematically and completely destroyed during the Russian occupation. Even collections that appeared to hold no special significance for the Russian occupiers were not spared. The EHRI portal is trying to draw up a list of Ukrainian archives and document what has been lost.
More than just an archive project
One thing became very clear: small archives – regardless of whether they are privately or state owned – are very vulnerable and cannot be preserved without targeted action. That is where the H-Files project comes in. It is dedicated to securing, digitizing, and bringing documents to light before they are lost forever. But H-Files is not just about preservation. It also increases the visibility of local communities and their history, creates new sources for research into Nazi crimes and forced labor in Eastern Europe, and provides public access to personal perspectives on persecution and survival.
