Professional development for teachers of all school types and subjects in Germany and France.
Many of the conflicts over memory that continue to shape not only Europe to this day are closely linked to the Second World War, and in particular to the Shoah. The transnational teacher training programme “The Shoah as a Starting Point” addresses this issue, enabling teachers to deepen their subject knowledge, engage in dialogue with experts and colleagues, and reflect on issues relating to teaching and learning. Since 2015, the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris has been organising training courses, in cooperation with various European partner institutions, for teachers from neighbouring countries who are grappling with differing historical narratives and shared challenges. This transnational approach opens up new perspectives and strengthens regional networking. In 2026, the training course will take place for the first time in collaboration with the Bergen-Belsen Memorial.
In the first part of this two-part training programme, we will explore fundamental aspects of the Shoah and the continuities of anti-Semitism through workshops, lectures and discussion sessions. In particular, we will also address questions of education and teaching. Together, we will visit the Bergen-Belsen Memorial.
In the second part of the training, the focus will be on in-depth approaches to the history of interconnections: links between 19th-century racial theory, German and French colonialism, and Nazi ideology. In addition, a guided tour of the Mémorial de la Shoah, a central place of remembrance of the Shoah in France, is planned. The aim of the training is to develop a joint learning activity for use in the classroom.
A detailed overview of the programme is available to download here.
Organisational information
Part 1: 27–29 August 2026, Hamburg (arrival on 26 August)
Part 2: 12–14 November 2026, Paris (arrival on 11 November)
Participation in both sessions is mandatory.
The Mémorial de la Shoah will cover the costs of three nights’ accommodation as well as two lunches and two dinners during the training course (for Part 1 and Part 2). Travel arrangements are to be organised independently and at your own expense.
Simultaneous interpreting (German/French) will be provided during the event.
A certificate of attendance will be issued upon completion of the training course.
Registration
To register in full by Monday, 15 June 2026, please complete the registration form below.
We will let you know by 22 June 2026 whether you have been selected to participate.
If you have any questions, please contact Bildung.Bergen-Belsen@stiftung-ng.de
The organisers reserve the right to exercise their domiciliary rights and to refuse admission to or exclude from the event any persons who belong to right-wing extremist parties or organisations or who have made or continue to make anti-Semitic, anti-democratic, history-denying, nationalistic, racist or other inhuman statements, attitudes or visible signs.
