#StolenMemory in Educational Projects

The campaign motivates young people across Europe to research the fates of persecutees from their own countries.

The owners of the stolen property once were victims of Nazi persecution from more than 30 different countries. Today, their families and descendants are scattered all over the world. This wide geographical spread makes #StolenMemory interesting for international educational projects as it gives young people the chance to research stories from their own region and get involved directly to support the search for families. Here are some examples of our educational projects.

Cooperation with the German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW)

For German-Polish groups in particular, #StolenMemory offers numerous starting points as the lives of many victims of Nazi persecution have connections with places of residence or memorials in both countries. The Arolsen Archives and the German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW) have been working closely together since 2019. As part of this cooperation, a large number of German-Polish and trilateral youth groups are taking part in the #StolenMemory campaign – facilitated through funding from the “Paths to Remembrance” program. We have summarized all the basic information about #StolenMemory as a German-Polish educational project in a joint brochure.

Partner school in Bad Oldesloe

Every year since 2020, for example, the Stormarn district vocational school in Bad Oldesloe has organized a one-week #StolenMemory project for up to 350 students from Germany, Poland and, most recently, Ukraine. German and Polish young people have already handed over a number of effects to Polish families together.

Necklace handed over to son of concentration camp survivor

Pupils from Bad Oldesloe and Mława, a town north of Warsaw, managed to track down the son of concentration camp survivor Marianna Miedzinska, for example. Tadeusz Stramko was presented with his mother’s necklace in Warsaw more than 80 years after it was taken from her. In 2024, the school project was awarded the Willi Piecyk Prize.

Young people from Oświęcim (Auschwitz) on the lookout for clues

#StolenMemory was used as an educational project for the first time in 2019, in partnership with the IJBS International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim/Auschwitz. Pupils from Konarski secondary school in Oświęcim research the fates of people from the local region; they search for clues and help us trace the descendants of the persecutees – with great success. They have already returned mementoes to more than ten families.

Family located in Poland

The pupils from Konarski secondary school managed to trace Stanisława Bury, for example, the niece of former concentration camp inmate Stefan Baster. The young people presented her with her uncle’s wedding ring at a solemn ceremony held to mark the event. Her uncle was a Polish resistance fighter from Nielepice near Krakow.

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Facts not Fiction

#StolenMemory is also the starting point for a number of local history projects as part of the “Facts not Fiction” initiative. Young people across Europe are researching the fates of victims of Nazi persecution. They can use innovative digital tools to present their findings in a creative form, such as a graphic novel, podcast, or exhibition. The Arolsen Archives are currently training history experts who will facilitate these projects.

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