June 22, Operation Barbarossa: Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union – huge impact on the Holocaust in Eastern Europe
The Memorial-museum at the site of the former concentration camp Red Cross in Nis
In cooperation with the National Museum of Niš
and the University of Niš
22. June 2016 – NIŠ
With participants from:
International conference “Escalating into Holocaust” took place on Wednesday 22nd June 2016 in the Great Hall of the University of Niš.
The International Conference was opened by welcoming speeches of MA Dragan Gačić, Director of the Historical Archives of Belgrade and Mr Uroš Parlić, Director of the Tourist Organization of the city of Niš.
Dr Milan Koljanin, historian from the Institute for Contemporary History from Belgrade held an introductory lecture on Sajmište – Historical Background – Concentration Camp Sajmište.
Tijana Kovčić, archivist from Historical Archives of Belgrade presented the Archives’ work on the development of Sajmište camp victims database, with special attention on the victims who were brought from Niš to Sajmište camp. The presentation explained also the methodology of the research and processing of the archival material and difficulties that occurred during the database creation. Available statistical data on Sajmište victims were presented as well.
Nikola Radić Lucati from the Center for Holocaust Research and Education, co-author of the exhibition “October 1941”, presented to the audience the idea and content of the exhibition.
(Exhibition “October 1941” was opened in Niš on 15 September 2016 in the National Museum of Niš.)
Three one-hour panel discussions followed:
I Session introductory presentation:
THE HOLOCAUST IN SERBIA IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT –
Sanela Schmidt, historian, researcher in Editionsprojekt “Judenverfolgung 1933–1945”, Institut fur Zeitgeschichte Berlin, Germany;
Panelists:
Dr Milan Koljanin, historian, Institute for Contemporary history, Belgrade;
Aleksandar Dinčić, historian, National Museum Niš, Niš;
Moderator:
Nevena Bajalica, Terraforming Network/Anne frank House, Amsterdam;
II Session introductory presentation:
NATIONAL COMMEMORATION PRACTICES IN THE NETHERLANDS –
Niels Weitkamp, Senior Advisor for Education at the national Committee 4 and 5 May, Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Panelists:
Nebojša Ozimić, historian, curator and Assistant Director of the National Museum of Nis;
Nevena Bajalica, Terraforming/International Department of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
Moderator:
Miško Stanišić, pedagogue, Creative Director of the Terraforming Network Stockholm-Amsterdam-Novi Sad
III Session introductory presentation:
HOLOCAUST AND ROMA GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE IN FORMER SOVIET UNION –
Mykhail Tyaglyy, historian, Institute for Holocaust, Kiev, Ukraine;
Panelists:
Maja Suša, Department for Research, Archiving and Documentation of the Holocaust Fund and Holocaust Memorial Center in Macedonia;
Vera Kurtić, executive coordinator at Women’s Space, a citizen association of Nis;
Moderator:
Dr Milovan Pisarri, historian, Center for Holocaust Research and Education.
BW photo: Nikola Radic Lucati
The conference in Niš, as well as the one held in Belgrade, created motivating atmosphere for the exchange of experiences between Serbian and international experts dealing with similar topics and enabled them to introspect Holocaust in wider European context. After each introductory presentation panelists and other guests present in the hall participated in constructive discussions.
Besides international experts, many other representatives of the local organizations and individuals attended the conference. Among others there were representatives of the National Museum of Niš, Historical Archives of Niš, Jewish community of Niš, Tourist Organization of Niš, non-government organization Women’s Space and other interested individuals.
International experts:
In the frames of the event” Escalating into Holocaust” in Niš, the National Museum of Niš organized a visit to the Concentration camp Crveni Krst. Serbian and international guests were guided by historian Aleksandar Dinčić.
The guests from Belgrade, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Germany, Sweden and Croatia learned about the history of the camp.
During the Second World War around 30 000 Serbs, Jews and Roma prisoners were brought by German Nazis to the Anhaltеlager Nisch. Around 10.000 people were shot at the nearby killing site Bubanj.
photo: Misko Stanisic
After the panel discussions, participants of the conference visited several historical locations in organization of the National Museum of Niš. Expert guides presented the sites to the participants