Work We Follow

Since 1994, we have learned that Holocaust education research and information about (German) resistance during the Shoah rarely meets a common academic standard. From the kitschy (White Rose as sentimental superheroes) to the blatantly self-serving ("memoirs" and foundations that perpetuate legends and not fact), it can be difficult to tell who's who without a scorecard.

Here then is our attempt at such a scorecoard - a list of the work and organizations we deem worthy of following. The list is in strictly alphabetical order.

If your organization or research does not appear on this list, and you'd like to be included, please contact us with your Web site information and why you believe your work should be included. 

Center for the Study of Law and Genocide (Loyola Law School, Los Angeles). A new addition to our list, CSLG (from their Web site) "focus[es] on remedies and victims of genocide and mass atrocities. It couples intellectual research and practical advocacy with the aim of helping victims achieve justice." Stan Goldman is Director, and this has become his passion.

Holocaust Centre, Nottinghamshire, England. New "friends"! These people combine powerful histories with innovative approaches to story-telling. We celebrate and embrace their vision, and passion.

Holocaust Education Foundation. This organization, founded by Holocaust survivors and their children, sponsors research and scholarship on the topic of the Shoah, generally in an interdisciplinary setting.

Holocaust Museum Houston. A sentimental favorite, since it was founded by the mother of one of our good friends. Her memory is truly for a blessing.

Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. This group "provides financial support to more than 850 non-Jews who rescued Jews during the Holocaust and preserves their legacy through a national education program." Among their projects: Knitting scarves for these "righteous" individuals.

Jugendbewegung.de. While not every young person associated with bündische youth belonged to German resistance, many of those who did had learned tolerance and cultural diversity while tramping throughout Germany and Europe. They feasted on "tusk's" writings, sang international folk songs, and saw life outside Germany's homogeneous borders. Verlag der Jugendbewegung in Berlin chronicles their stories, along with the songs and folk tales that inspired them. Especially love it when they publish collections related to Jewish clubs under this umbrella.

Museum of Tolerance. Part of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the MOT mixes historical research with exhibits that seek to make the lessons of genocide and hatred relevant to 21st century youth.

Ruth Hanna Sachs. The histories written by Ruth Hanna Sachs are the ultimate historical record of the actions and beliefs of the friends we know as the White Rose. [Full disclosure: Affiliated with the Center for White Rose Studies.] Note that publication ceased in 2012, although content through that date is still available.

Shoah Foundation (USC, Los Angeles). One of the best-known Holocaust education organizations in the world, largely thanks to its founder, Steven Spielberg. Shoah Foundation is most valuable for its unedited oral histories, both of Holocaust survivors and those who claim to have been part of the resistance. Our primary "gripe" with Shoah Foundation oral histories: They do nothing to ferret out those who falsely claim to have been part of the resistance, and include them alongside those worthy of honor. We continue our dialog with them on this topic.

Stolpersteine Munich. Although Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) are a well-known means of commemoration across Germany, indeed in all of Europe, Munich has fought their installation. It's complicated, and I won't go into details here. But this group seeks to install Stolpersteine on private property in Munich, so individuals and families killed during the Third Reich are not forgotten. We celebrate their work.
 
Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts). Not only does Clark support a well-rounded interdisciplinary program, but they also involve students in their work. We always run into "Clark" people at various conferences and seminars, and they steadfastly impress us with the seriousness of their scholarship. They're also quite transparent in the way they handle their finances - a big plus for us.

The Log Book Project. From the site's Executive Summary:

In 2016, some 70 years after Devaux’s last flight entry, a story of Japanese fighter pilot, Kaname Harada, inspired an initiative to collect autographs on the unused pages in Devaux’s logbook. To date, over 200 WWII veterans and civilian witnesses from around the world have graciously signed. The signatories’ remarkable experiences are carefully documented as part of the process.

The logbook’s amazing journey, as it travels the globe obtaining signatures, is also being recorded. We hope that future generations who encounter the logbook and the compilation of testimonies, will appreciate the unspeakable horrific suffering and deprivation experienced by millions - on all sides - during World War II. Of equal importance is underscoring the need to strive continuously for peace, reconciliation and remembrance.

The Log Book Project is therefore intended as a small tribute to all who suffered incalculable and irreplaceable losses and ultimately dedicated to those whose service purchased the freedoms so often taken for granted today.

Note: The founder obtained Traute Lafrenz Page's signature for the log book.

Yad Vashem (Israel). The granddaddy of all Holocaust education organizations... Yad Vashem offers a wide range of Holocaust education services. Although frankly, we wish they would update their White Rose section to make it less Scholl-centric. Give them time!

Dr. Armin Ziegler's Web site on the life and contribution of Eugen Grimminger - including but not limited to Grimminger's participation in White Rose resistance. Dr. Ziegler uploaded chunks of his White Rose work (in German language only) to his White Rose Web site. -- Following Dr. Ziegler's death, these sites are down. We will be working with his family to gain permission to upload that content here.

If any of the above links are broken or do not work, please let us know! Thanks. - The editors.