Jewish life in Dresden – time witnesses and oral history

About This Project

Jewish Life in Dresden

Time witnesses and oral history

01.09.2021 – 31.12.2021

Antisemitism is a well-established phenomenon in Dresden and beyond in all of Saxony – to address this issue in the long term, it is essential to impart basic background information and awareness of Jewish history, traditions, and customs before and after the Holocaust. A suitable approach provided by historical sciences involves “oral history”, which can also be described as “lived history” since it collates subjective experiences of individuals using time witness interviews, thus enabling a personal and approachable way of historiography.

To implement this project, a documentary film is developed including time witness interviews, which will give insight into the history of Jewish life in Dresden and historical as well as present Antisemitic movements. Hence, this project will contribute to the dissemination of in-depth knowledge of Jewish history, especially through personal stories and memories from time witnesses, and the strengthening of a culture of remembrance. Moreover, this will raise awareness for Antisemitism being an extremely important and urgent problem of our time.

The project is co-financed by the State of Saxony within the framework of the “Integrative Measures” Programme.