Message

F0805 Auschwitz, the Place and its Representations at the Beginning of the 21st Century

Since the collapse of the Nazi regime and the end of World War II, Auschwitz has become their central symbol. The name of the gigantic camp, located in the heart of Europe, where hundreds of thousands of people of all nations were overworked and tortured, and over a million killed – mostly Jews - is today, in the beginning of the 21st century, an international cultural code and a symbol of ultimate evil. The attempt to study Auschwitz and at least to be well-informed about it and its impact, is therefore an essential part of the memory and lessons of World War II in particular, and of human history in general.
Yet the unprecedented world created by the Nazis inside the camp was one that defies and contradicts the understanding, the values and the experience of most people, regardless of their origin, religion and creed. Therefore the research question of the suggested course would be whether the study of the camp, and the gathering of information about it and about the impact it left on culture and memory may indeed serve as a basis for the understanding of the Auschwitz phenomenon; and whether understanding it is at all possible or even desired.

Course Outline
The suggested course aims at acquainting the student with the camp and its impact by using four levels: the historic one, the cultural one, the educational and commemorational one and the personal experience.
On the historical level, use will be made of primary documentation and of text books in order to study the history of the camp, its location and structure both as a huge forced labor compound and as a killing site, its staff and functioning.
On the cultural level, major literary and cinematographic works will be read, watched and discussed, as well as material from courts of justice.
On the educational and commemorational level, an attempt will be made to discuss the teaching of Auschwitz to both students and the public at large in Germany, Poland and Israel, and the practice of commemoration in these countries and others, especially following the UN declaration of the 27th of January as the International Annual Auschwitz Liberation day.
On the forth level, that of the personal experience, the students will first each read a survivor’s testimony or memoirs, and discuss this genre of writing and commemoration. Then they will meet a survivor in person, hear and discuss his testimony. And finally, if possible, a two-days guided visit to Auschwitz will take place, in which they will be able to experience the place at first hand, and also visit the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
Educational Goal: There are few places that could be sources of educational significance as Auschwitz: tracing the racial ideology that caused so much suffering and the staff that followed it and was trained to carry it out, leads to the discussion of human rights, minority rights and the equality and dignity of the individual. Tracing the prisoners, of all nationalities, caged in the camp, leads to the discussion of human beings under extreme pressure, when both the best and the worst in mankind are exposed. Tracing the encounter between the victims and their torturers leads to the discussion of moral choices and insolvable dilemmas, one that may generate in the students sensitivity and compassion. And finally, caution should be exercised, not to let the students be swept by emotions, and to emphasize instead the need for a careful study of the facts on the basis of which the moral conclusions could be reached.