Zentrum fir politesch Bildung - Living Memory

As the generation of Holocaust survivors gradually disappears, the question of transmission becomes ever more pressing. The accounts of those who endured persecution, deportation and exile are irreplaceable sources for understanding the past and reflecting on the present. Their imminent loss carries a major risk: that these voices may fade before they have been fully recorded.

It is in response to this reality that Living Memory – Une mémoire qui vit was created, an initiative dedicated to recording, indexing and sharing testimonies from Holocaust survivors connected to Luxembourg. Led by the Zentrum fir politesch Bildung, it emerged from the encounter between Blandine Landau, historian and heritage curator, and Marc Schoentgen, who has long been engaged in issues of remembrance.

During her doctoral research, Blandine Landau repeatedly worked with oral testimonies. She noted the absence of a coordinated national approach, even though survivors were still living in Luxembourg and abroad and actively contributing to research. Marc Schoentgen shared the same concern: to preserve these voices before they disappear. Their exchange marked the beginning of a structured collaboration.

Implemented mainly between 2024 and 2025, Living Memory led to the recording of nearly 60 interviews across eight countries. At the same time, extensive indexing work was carried out to make hundreds of testimonies accessible, many of which had previously been scattered or difficult to consult from Luxembourg. These recordings are now a valuable resource for research, education and public engagement.

The initiative reaches a wide range of audiences including historians, teachers, students, memorial organisations, as well as families and citizens who wish to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust in Luxembourg and beyond. These testimonies go beyond their documentary value. They directly inform educational approaches, cultural projects and civic reflection.

Time is one of the central challenges of this initiative. Some individuals identified at the outset passed away before the necessary funding could be secured. Faced with this urgency, a key decision was made to act without delay. An initial series of interviews was launched through the support of partners, particularly in the United States and in Paris, to ensure that essential testimonies were not lost.

Among the defining moments are several decisive encounters. In New York, the interview with Betty Hirschbein, née Puderbeutel, born in Luxembourg in 1940 and a survivor of deportation, illustrates the human and historical significance of the project. The meeting with Sal Gorge opened new perspectives by revealing the potential for future developments in research, documentary film and exhibitions.

The impact is also visible on an individual level. Some people agreed to testify for the first time, sometimes after decades of silence, including within their own families. In several cases, these recordings now constitute the only trace of their life stories. For their relatives, they represent a lasting and invaluable legacy.

Feedback has been widely positive, both from the public and from the academic community. The initiative has also enabled important structural progress, including access from Luxembourg to the Visual History Archives of the USC Shoah Foundation, significantly facilitating consultation for researchers, educators and associations.

While most of the recording work has now been completed, the initiative continues in other forms: integration of testimonies into the Digital Memorial of the Holocaust in Luxembourg, educational projects, exhibitions, audiovisual productions and academic research. Additional collections still need to be identified and made accessible.

Through Living Memory, the objective is not only to preserve these accounts, but to give them an active place within society. Beyond remembrance, these testimonies speak to the present and remind us of the importance of remaining vigilant against mechanisms of exclusion and rejection.