MÜNSTER — Memorial site practitioners, academics, and police officers from across Europe and the United States convened at Villa ten Hompel in Münster for the final conference of the Police and the Holocaust initiative, marking the culmination of a multi-stage, EU-funded educational project.
The conference brought together participants from eight countries, including police officers, educators, and experts engaged in Holocaust remembrance and police training. Organized by Villa ten Hompel, What Matters, and the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the gathering provided a platform for in-depth exchange, critical reflection, and the strengthening of transnational networks.
Building on earlier project phases—including workshops in Münster, Westerbork, Vienna, and study visits to sites across Poland—the conference focused on translating historical knowledge into contemporary professional practice. Participants reflected on the role of police institutions during the Holocaust and explored how this history informs ethical decision-making and responsibility in modern law enforcement.
The program was structured around four key objectives: examining approaches to police education across different countries; reflecting on the findings and development of the project; discussing the implications of historical responsibility for democratic policing today; and exploring how differing national memory cultures—particularly between perpetrator and victim societies—shape professional perspectives and practice.
The conference opened with guided tours of Villa ten Hompel and Münster’s historic center, offering participants insight into the site’s historical significance and its role in Holocaust education. Led by experts including Thomas Köhler, Naomi Roth, Peter Römer, and Hannah Voß, the sessions examined both the historical content of the site and the pedagogical approaches used to engage police audiences. This dual perspective allowed participants to assess not only the substance of the exhibition but also the challenges and opportunities inherent in teaching complex historical material to law enforcement professionals.
Scientific presentations formed a central component of the program, highlighting the educational impact of the initiative. Drawing on qualitative research conducted by Greta Lüking, participants were presented with findings from interviews with police officers who had taken part in earlier stages of the project. The research demonstrated how engagement with historical sites and direct exposure to the realities of Nazi crimes can deepen awareness of institutional responsibility, strengthen sensitivity to democratic values, and encourage critical reflection within police practice.
The conference was attended by approximately 30 participants from seven EU member states, including professionals working in police training, Holocaust education, and memorial institutions, as well as police officers who had participated directly in the project. The World Jewish Congress was represented by Viktorija Juse and Frank Fischer.
The initiative is implemented by an international consortium of partners, including What Matters and the World Jewish Congress, in cooperation with governmental and educational institutions across Europe. By bringing together practitioners and experts from multiple disciplines and national contexts, the conference underscored the importance of sustained international collaboration in ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust remain embedded within modern frameworks of police education and democratic responsibility.
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
