Contemporary witness talks in the Weiz district: remind and learn for the future!

Contemporary witness talks in the Weiz district: remind and learn for the future!

Weiz, Österreich - in the Weiz district, things are currently going really well for the Lila Winkel association, which is very strong for memory work and education about the time of National Socialism. For the school year 2024/25, the association is planning a continuation of the contemporary witness talks, which have already proven themselves in the school year 2023/24. Over 1,444 pupils and teachers were reached in the region, such as MeinDezirk.at reported.

This way into the past is not only instructive, but also necessary. The Lila Winkel has had this conversations since 1999 and has informed over 290,500 people across Austria about the cruel human rights violations under the Nazi regime. History here is not just dry theory, but a living story that contributes to the fact that the painful experiences of the past have not been forgotten.

life memories and new exhibitions

In the coming year there are also some exciting exhibitions on the program. One of them, the “living story”, is included in 14 roll-ups and serves as preparation for the contemporary witness talks. Judith Ribic and Friedrich Tschoggl, both contemporary witnesses and relatives of the persecuted of the Nazi regime, are already very excited about the planned activities. They tell of the personal life stories of their ancestors who throw an impressive light on this dark time.

An example of the enriching accompanying work of the association is the fascinating life story of Alex Ebstein. Born in a Jewish family in 1926, he reported on his school days, in which he initially had no discrimination despite the political upheavals. But the turn came with the takeover of power by the National Socialists. Like lilawinkel.at , the measures against Jews led to a dramatic cut in his life: reference to school, loss of the apartment and finally the deportation in concentration camps in which he had to suffer incredible suffering.

importance of contemporary witness talks

Why are eyewitness talks so important? According to the Federal Center for Political Education With these encounters, students receive valuable insights into the effects of the National Socialist exclusion and extermination policy. The aim of these conversations is to promote empathy and to give young people an awareness of human rights and tolerance. At a time when direct contact with contemporary witnesses decreases more and more, these events are even more important.

The media and didactic examination of the Nazi era is crucial, even in order to restore the lost dignity of the victims and to prevent future suffering. The challenge is to convey the stories of the survivors respectfully and empathetically. The use of professional moderators and close cooperation with educational institutions are crucial.

The commitment of the Lila Winkel association reflects the valuable contribution that the memory work on social education can do. By hearing the stories of the survivors, we will not only witnesses the past, but also actively shape the future.