EURHOLMEM

The Europeanisation of the Holocaust memory in Eastern Europe

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The Holocaust, i.e. the destruction of almost six millions of European Jews between 1933 and 1945, after having faded into oblivion in the late 1940s and 50s, has been a matter of developing national memories in Western Europe, Israel and the USA since the 1960s and a part of cosmopolitan and European memory since the 1990s. In Eastern Europe (EE), where the Holocaust had largely happened, its memory hardly developed until the end of the communist rule in 1989-91. The general objective of this project is to assess to what extent, how and why the cosmopolitan and (West) European memory of the Holocaust has contributed to the development of the Holocaust memory in EE since 1989. The research concerns primarily the former communist-ruled countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2004, with references to other post-communist countries in the east of the continent (except for Russia). The project aims (1) to assess how much national and cosmopolitan/[West] European Holocaust memory there is in the EE countries; (2) to analyse the Europeanisation of the Holocaust memories in the EE countries through European organisations: the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust, the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research; the Council of Europe; the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and, particularly, the European Union; and (3) to discuss the causes of slower development of the Holocaust memory in EE. The research involves: (1) the analysis of the Holocaust organisations, memorials, remembrance, education, and public awareness in EE; (2) the analysis of the participation of the EE countries in the Holocaust remembrance within selected European organisations, including the analysis of the Holocaust-related debates in and documents of the European Parliament; (3) the study of the politics of memory of selected EE countries in regard to the Holocaust, with reference to its history.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project looked at the reasons and ways in which European Holocaust memory has contributed to the development of Holocaust memory in eastern Europe in recent decades.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The Holocaust took place between 1933 and 1945 primarily in eastern Europe. At that time, eastern Europe was understood as the countries that were ruled by communism between 1945 and 1989 and have since been integrating into the EU. The project 'The Europeanisation of the Holocaust memory in eastern Europe' (EURHOLMEM) focused on the states that acceded to the EU in 2004 and 2007.

In this case, memory was seen from the angle of cultural and social studies, centring on remembrance and memorials and museums. The Europeanisation of Holocaust memory is how beliefs about the Holocaust are constructed and institutionalised, including formal and informal norms. They have been defined, consolidated and incorporated into the practices of European countries.

An assessment of how much indigenous and exogenous Holocaust memory exists in eastern European countries was a main project objective. Additionally, EURHOLMEM turned to international/European organisations to examine the Europeanisation of Holocaust memories. The slower development in western Europe, Israel and the United States was considered. Comparative analysis, ethnographic study and reviews of history were all part of the process.

Overall findings show that cosmopolitan and (west) European memory of the Holocaust has made significant contributions to the development of Holocaust memory in eastern Europe since 1989. Influence of European Holocaust memory is primarily seen on Holocaust Remembrance Days and educational programmes in almost all eastern European countries.

Results of the project will help contribute to a better understanding of both the initial and final developments of the memory of the Holocaust in the area in which it took place. Through this, the role of cosmopolitan and European Holocaust memory and transitional agents, including the EU, is highlighted.