Are you looking for Descendants of Those Persecuted under National Socialism to speak at your event?

Encounters with descendants of those persecuted under National Socialism

It is a fact that there are fewer and fewer survivors of Nazi persecution who are willing and able to share their experiences as contemporary witnesses. This makes the role of their children, grandchildren and other descendants increasingly important. They not only share the history of persecution experienced by their families, but also talk about how these experiences continue to affect subsequent generations and about their own experiences.

The Federal Association Information & Advice for Survivors of Nazi Persecution e.V. has an extensive network of Descendants of Those Persecuted under National Socialism who are active as speakers in educational work. They provide personal insights into their families’ histories, the consequences of persecution and the significance of remembrance for the present.

Many descendants continue to be affected by the consequences of Nazi persecution to this day. Family histories of flight, exclusion, violence and loss can leave lasting traces – for example through inherited emotional patterns, so-called transgenerational trauma, but also through a heightened awareness of the consequences of hatred, incitement and group-based discrimination. Some descendants also experience discrimination themselves, for example because they belong to groups that have continued to face exclusion after 1945, such as Sinti and Roma.

It is precisely this connection between family history, personal experience and social engagement that makes descendants important voices in historical and civic education. They can convey particularly powerfully where exclusion, antisemitism, racism and hostility towards democracy can lead – because their family histories make the long-term consequences visible.

 

You can find our speakers here: 

Descendants of Those Persecuted under National Socialism

 

Encounters enable young people and adults to:

• learn about history from the perspective of Descendants of Those Persecuted under National Socialism,
• understand the impact of Nazi persecution up to the present day,
• reflect on continuities of Nazi ideology in society,
• engage in discussions about responsibility and democracy,
• reflect on their own questions about exclusion and social cohesion.

 

What formats can descendants be invited to participate in?

Our speakers provide educational programmes for different target groups and age groups. The content and format are tailored individually to your institution and the occasion.

 

Possible formats include:

• Workshops on family history, remembrance culture and connections to the present
• Testimony cafés and moderated discussion groups
• Project days at schools
• Lectures and panel discussions
• Events for school students, university students, educators and the general public

 

Individual formats

Every family history is unique. For this reason, the content, duration and methodology are agreed upon individually with each speaker. This allows us to create educational programmes that are tailored both to the target group and to the timeframe of your event.

 

Fees and costs

In some cases, a fee is paid to the speakers, which goes exclusively to the Descendants of Those Persecuted under National Socialism themselves and appropriately recognises their preparation, experience and personal work of sharing their stories.

The Federal Association Information & Advice for Survivors of Nazi Persecution e.V. receives no payment for arranging or coordinating these engagements.

The following additional costs should also be taken into account:

• Travel expenses (e.g. train journeys or travel by car)
• Accommodation costs, if travelling to and from the event on the same day is not possible

The amount of the fee and any anticipated additional costs are agreed transparently in advance.

As part of your planned event, we kindly ask you to collect voluntary donations to support the continued work of the Federal Association. These donations support the organisation’s long-term educational, advisory and remembrance work and are entirely separate from the speakers’ fees.

 

Locations

Descendants are available to participate in events throughout Germany. Depending on availability and distance, both in-person and, by prior arrangement, digital events are possible.

Please note that many descendants of the first generation (children of survivors) are themselves now elderly. Longer or more distant journeys can sometimes be physically demanding for health reasons. Locations, travel times and the format of the event should therefore be carefully discussed and agreed upon in advance.