Digital Remembrance of the Holocaust
The First Connective Holocaust Remembrance Expo

The three-day event, titled the “Connective Holocaust Commemoration Expo”, was more than just a conference: alongside classic keynotes and panel discussions, the event included project presentations, “Let’s Play” sessions, VR stations, digital skills workshops, and opportunities to try out digital games – all with a focus on Holocaust remembrance.

Lena Altman, Co-CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation, emphasised: “As digital technologies redefine how we engage with history, the Connective Holocaust Commemoration Expo demonstrates how remembrance can be made more resilient, more global, and more impactful. This is not just an exhibition – it is a live testing ground for the future of Holocaust education. One project on display allows visitors to walk through a recreated deportation transport in virtual reality, guided by survivor testimony. These hands-on tools don’t replace memory – they re-anchor it where it risks being lost: in younger generations, digital spaces, and societies far removed from Europe’s history. We are proud to support the Landecker Digital Memory Lab in bringing these approaches together – because memory must not only be preserved, but made unmissable and usable in the world we live in now.”

Remembering the Past Is Becoming More Urgent

While the number of living witnesses to the Second World War is rapidly declining, the Holocaust is increasingly politicised and instrumentalised. Prof Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden, Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, emphasised: “The need to enhance the visibility of nuanced, truthful but engaging presentations of this past to keep it relevant and to resist distortion has never been more urgent. Currently, the digital Holocaust memoryscape is scattered, efforts are duplicated and resources not maintained. The Expo offered a unique opportunity to bring all the actors in this field together, from across the globe, across disciplines and sectors, to share what we’re working on and to move towards a more connective future.”

A New Dialogue Platform Goes Live

Based at the University of Sussex and supported by the Alfred Landecker Foundation, the Landecker Digital Memory Lab launched the Digital Memory Dialogues at the Expo. On this online publication platform, practitioners in Holocaust remembrance can share perspectives and debate. To what extent is it possible — or even appropriate — to gamify history? Should the Holocaust feature in computer games? These questions were at the heart of the first debate, which took place as a hybrid event on site and streamed live.

The LDML also announced the beta launch of the Digital Memory Database. As the first database of its kind worldwide, it collects and archives digital Holocaust remembrance projects dating back to the 1990s, including archived demos and interviews with project contributors. Its goal is to: document existing projects, simplify knowledge transfer and avoid duplication of efforts. In addition, the collection and presentation of information in the database promotes research in this area.

Some Sessions Are Available Online

The Expo featured two keynote lectures that were recorded and are now available online. In her talk, “Pixels and Hashtags of the Past”, Dr Eva Pfanzelter explored how digital platforms are changing Holocaust remembrance—often at the expense of historical depth. The session is available to watch online. In the second lecture, titled “Conserving and Communicating the Indescribable”, Prof Paul FMJ Verschure presented his “Future Memory” framework. This enables personalised, immersive learning experiences about Nazi crimes using VR and AR technologies. Specifically, it connects 100 historically significant sites within a unified educational infrastructure. This session, too, is available online.

What role can social media play in Holocaust remembrance? And what might the future of Holocaust memory on these platforms look like? These questions were at the heart of the “What is the Future of Holocaust Memory on Social Media?” panel discussion, which is also available online.

Diverse Formats Highlight the Scope of Digital Remembrance

Beyond the keynote lectures and panel discussions, visitors to the Landecker Digital Memory Lab Expo were also able to explore an exhibition hall featuring VR booths and demonstrations of pioneering digital projects. A “hack” event brought together digital creatives and Holocaust remembrance experts to foster collaboration and develop new ideas. Several members of the Landecker Community also took part, including Dr Iris Groschek and Markus Bassermann (Remember: The Children of Bullenhuser Damm), as well as Dr Alina Bothe and Lisa Paduch (#LastSeen). Landecker Lecturers Dr Mykola Makhortykh and Dr Sebastian Musch were also present to share their research and perspectives.

The Connective Holocaust Commemoration Expo was the first in a series of three planned events. The next Expos will take place in Germany in 2027 and in Serbia in 2029.

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