Discussing the Holocaust : Curatorial and educational approaches at the House of Austrian History

Fösl, Markus (2025) Discussing the Holocaust : Curatorial and educational approaches at the House of Austrian History. HURBÁN: EGYÜTTÉLÉS ÖSSZEOMLÁS ÚJRAKEZDÉS, 3 (2). pp. 21-30. ISSN 3004-023X

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Abstract

The study examines the curatorial and educational strategies of the House of Austrian History (hdgö), focusing on how the history of Nazism and the Holocaust can be represented within contemporary museum spaces. It describes the institution’s historically charged location and the challenges posed by exhibiting in a space marked by the symbolism of the Anschluss. The exhibitions rely heavily on personal biographies, individual decisions and everyday experiences, deliberately avoiding the visual reproduction of brutality or the reinforcement of Nazi propaganda imagery. Interactive elements invite visitors to engage with current debates surrounding memory culture and democratic responsibility. The paper highlights the importance of creating analytical, non-emotional exhibition environments and employing critical pedagogical approaches in confronting the past. The hdgö serves as an example of how Holocaust museology must balance ethical sensitivity, historical accuracy and active visitor participation.

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