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.

Aktion Sühnezeichen: Friedensdienste. Born in the mid-1950s out of weak Lutheran response to accepting responsibility for that denomination’s culpability in the Shoah, AS-F was established by Lutheran pastors who had signed the Bonhoeffer-Niemöller Confession, and who did not think the Lutheran “apology” postwar was strong enough. Although the name of this organization is usually rendered Operation Reconciliation: Service for Peace, “Sühnezeichen” means sign of atonement, stronger than reconciliation. Same word as t’shuvah.

Dola Ben-Yehuda Wittmann, daughter of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, author of the first modern Hebrew dictionary, was active with the Israeli branch of AS-F. Her German-Catholic husband Max Wittmann carried on his father-in-law’s work in Israel after Eliezer’s death.

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 Educational Foundation of Northwestern University. This organization, founded by Holocaust survivors and their children, sponsors research and scholarship on the topic of the Shoah, generally in an interdisciplinary setting. We have followed them since their pre-Northwestern days and applaud their work.

Holocaust Museum Houston. A sentimental favorite, since the mother of one of our good friends participated in its founding and early direction. 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.

KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau. First time there was 1973. Most recently, 2023. Thanks to the leadership of Barbara Distel, this memorial site encourages remembering along with good scholarship.

Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation. This foundation funds educational grants to provide learning materials and books, support field trips and programming, and bring Holocaust survivor speakers into schools and classrooms nationwide.

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.

National Holocaust Centre & Museum, previously 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.

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.

Stiftung Zurückgeben. A German organization, founded by women who inherited stolen Jewish art from their parents. When they could not locate the rightful owners, they endowed a foundation to support Jewish female entrepreneurs – in Germany.

Stolpersteine. Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks) are a well-known means of commemoration across Germany, indeed in all of Europe, Stolpersteine ensure that 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 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. The Log Book Project is 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.

Verlag der Jugendbewegung. Primary focus of this group: Documenting bündische life in Germany, both before and after Hitler. Included here because they write about Jewish-bündische youth groups, recognizing the normalcy of such clubs among Jewish-Germans.

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.