The castlle of Wewelsburg | Picture: Kreismuseum Wewelsburg
can be called up at media terminals. Survivors of permanent programme. More than 50,000 people
the Niederhagen concentration camp relate their visit the memorial every year, whilst the proportion
personal interpretations and memories in intensive, of visitors recognisable as right-wing extremists
biographical interviews. The interview excerpts are is marginal. The concern that the number of neo-
not intended to clarify historical facts but rather to Nazis might increase due to the presentation of
support the better understanding of events from “affirmative” objects in the exhibition from the
the perspective of the concentration camp victims. SS environment has remained unfounded. On the
This empathetic, personal aspect of the exhibition internet it is more a case of finding angry statements
is deliberately not granted to members of the SS, about what they consider to be the “disrespectful
and their reminiscences cannot be called up via the treatment” of the North Tower, their “place of
terminals. consecration”. In addition to historical-political
educational work and information about Nazi
The “Wewelsburg Commemorative and Memorial perpetrators, the commemoration of concentration
Centre 1933 – 1945” sees itself, since its foundation camp victims is of high importance. Contacts are
in 1982, as an extracurricular place of learning maintained to concentration camp survivors and
offering extensive didactic, historical-political their relatives but also to relatives of SS members
seminar programmes for groups of young people and who wish to learn more about their fathers and
adults. Special projects also address issues such as grandfathers. In this regard the memorial fulfils its
discrimination and moral courage. The uncovering task as a research centre for the history of the SS
of the SS shooting range, filled up after the war, and the Niederhagen concentration camp. Visitors
is regularly driven forward as part of work camps. have access to an archival collection, a media library
Special exhibitions, readings and lectures about with an extensive collection of contemporary witness
National-Socialist history and for the prevention of interviews with survivors and village residents, and a
right-wing extremism and racism form part of the specialist library.
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Observing Memories
ISSUE 2