The sites of forced labour were not only the camps where the forced labourers were housed, but above all the places where they were forced to work. This means that the history of companies can also be a starting point for educational work on the subject. As a response to the pandemic, the Documentation Centre on Nazi Forced Labour launched the online workshop (In)visible history - Nazi forced labour in corporate histories in spring 2020.
The Zoom workshop focusses on the way companies present themselves and their company history on their respective websites. After a short general introductory presentation on the topic of Nazi forced labour and the definition of forced labour, the speakers will lead the participants into small group work. The task is to critically the way each company presents itself in its online presence. The simple question is: How is this history presented? Participants can choose from a list of companies, both private and state-owned companies from a range of sectors.
The small groups are then given the relevant links to the online company chronologies in breakout sessions. Each small group of two or three participants can discuss their observations together and think about which aspects they would like to present to the whole group later. This might include talking about omissions, as well as certain euphemistic terms used, or heroic narratives, or companies presenting themselves as victims. The analysis can also look at how prominent or hidden the positioning of information is and what visual language is used. Also of interest is the way in which forced labourers are represented, if at all – anonymously as a mass or as active agents. The period analysed may include the post-war years.
After each small group's presentation, visually supported by showing screenshots or sharing the screen of the relevant website, the other participants can ask questions or point out other aspects. The workshop instructors can then clarify any open questions, present contrasting quotes from former forced labourers or provide references for further reading. The aim of the workshop is not to give an exhaustive account of each company's history, but to stimulate curiosity, to enable participants to become aware of narrative biases and to develop their analytical and evaluative skills. Depending on the interests of the group, different aspects can be explored in more depth in the final discussion. Themes for discussion could include the question of guilt and responsibility of companies, the different reasons for companies to deal with their past, or the strategies adopted in their policies for dealing with the past and remembrance. Ongoing debates could also be discussed, as well as ways in which companies and sectors could do more to come to terms with their own Nazi past.
The workshop lasts 2.5 hours and is designed to be a site-independent introduction that requires no prior knowledge, but can also be used as a follow-up to a visit to a place of remembrance.
The workshop can be booked free of charge in German or English at the Documentation Centre Nazi Forced Labour.
Contact
Dokumentationszentrum NS-Zwangsarbeit
Britzer Straße 5
12439 Berlin
Email: Bildung-SW@topographie.de
