Study days

In various development and reflection phases, topics are repeated and knowledge is deepened. Participants are also encouraged to share their impressions and relate them to their own lives in a meaningful way.

All study days address aspects of the history of the site as contextual history and deal with the motivations and scope of action of perpetrators, those involved in the crimes and bystanders, perspectives and strategies of those persecuted, lines of continuity and ruptures.

The historical sites of the former main or satellite camp, including the M.B. 89 learning centre, as well as the Prisoner of War cemetery in Hörsten in selected formats, are used for the programme. The locations depend on the thematic focus at the time of booking.

Study day: Bergen-Belsen and the surrounding area

The study day is dedicated to the socio-geographical, institutional and economic environment of the concentration camp with the aim of making the basis and prerequisites of National Socialist crime complexes comprehensible on a societal level.

The constellation of perpetrators and persecution will be supplemented by discussions about those involved in the crimes and bystanders as well as their respective motivations and scope for action. The study day aims to enable participants to understand the strategies and behaviours that supported National Socialist terror and the concentration camp system in its particular form and to encourage them to critically question these against the backdrop of social radicalisation processes.

Why did so many people stand by? Who benefited from the crimes (e.g. in the form of forced labour or work assignments)? Why did so many people continue to take part in the crimes in the final weeks and months of the war? Why were there only a few resisting? Were people really unaware of the crimes? Did they participate out of fear or are there examples that show that the historical participants had more scope for action?

Clarifying the close-knit social, economic and institutional basis of the crimes should help us to reflect on the relation between history and presence. These questions can help to sustainably and critically question current developments and subjective scope for action and to experience dialogue about history as an opportunity to position oneself in the discussion about successful coexistence and societal participation.