THE HORIZON OF EVIL –
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN
THE STUTTHOF MUSEUM AND
THE SREBRENICA MEMORIAL CENTRE
Stutthof Memorial
When we began our partnership with the Srebrenica Memorial Centre in early 2024, we didn’t anticipate how profound and impactful this relationship would become. Our shared narrative, centred around the horizon of evil, connects the mechanisms that led to the establishment of Nazi concentration and extermination camps with the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995. Our mutual sensitivity to history and our commitment to educating and honouring the victims laid the groundwork for a strong institutional and educational collaboration.
In September 2024, key representatives from our institution, including Piotr Tarnowski, Director of the Museum, and Ewa Malinowska, Head of the Education Department, visited the Srebrenica Memorial Centre. During their visit, they explored exhibitions depicting the atrocities committed three decades ago, engaged with oral history archives, and learned about the educational initiatives conducted by the Bosnian institution. This visit also provided a platform to discuss potential joint exhibitions and educational projects.
The fruits of this collaboration became evident during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Stutthof concentration camp. This event welcomed representatives from the Srebrenica Memorial Centre, including Amra Begić Fazlić, Deputy Director, and Hasan Hasanović, a genocide survivor who now curates the oral history archive. They participated in a panel discussion titled "The Horizon of Evil. Memory in Education as a Foundation for Future Decisions.” Throughout the debate, they emphasised the vital importance of pursuing historical truth and the crucial role that memory plays in shaping the future. The event was streamed online, allowing it to reach a broader audience.
The next phase of our collaboration unfolded in July 2025, when a delegation from the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, comprising Piotr Tarnowski, Ewa Malinowska, and Łukasz Kępski, participated in the international conference "Our Story, Our Promise" in Srebrenica. During this multi-day gathering, participants delved into the significance of survivor testimonies, strategies to combat denialism, and effective methods for educating about genocides. Ewa Malinowska presented our Museum's educational activities, highlighting the importance of direct engagement with witnesses and the historical context. Other representatives from our institution emphasised that education in places of remembrance should bridge the past, present, and future—not just as a means of imparting knowledge but also as a vital tool for fostering responsibility and empathy.
The partnership between the Stutthof Museum and the Srebrenica Memorial Centre highlights how, despite our geographical, linguistic, and historical differences, we share a common understanding of genocide and hate crimes. We are driven by the belief that only through collaborative efforts—international and transnational, grounded in mutual respect and truth—can we effectively combat violence, dehumanisation, and exclusion. Educating ourselves about the mechanisms of evil, recognising them, and speaking out against them is not only a vital duty to honour the victims but also a proactive step toward prevention—an investment in building
a future free from hatred.
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