Abstract
Collective memory is not an aim in itself, but rather an instrument for shaping a collective identity in the present. Where does the key event of the Holocaust fit in as an element of collective memory in the service of contemporary politics? In this contribution I concentrate mainly on the states most identified as successors of the perpetrators and the victims: Germany and Israel. How have public discussions in both countries changed the meaning and relevance of the Holocaust for their respective societies? What did the Holocaust become? What is the social and cultural function of what was left of the Holocaust in contemporary collective memory in both states?.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 45-56 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Holocaust Studies |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jun 2014 |
Bibliographical note
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