BERLIN — Policymakers, law enforcement representatives, and educational experts convened in Berlin for a high-level conference focused on integrating Holocaust education more effectively into police training across Germany.
The event brought together participants from across the country, including representatives from Berlin, Bavaria, Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia, alongside partners from memorial sites, police institutions, ministries, and foundations. It served as a platform to present findings from the first phases of an ongoing transnational initiative examining the role of police during the Holocaust and its relevance for law enforcement today.
Participants were introduced to both the practical implementation and academic evaluation of the program, including its combination of workshops held in participants’ home institutions and immersive study visits to Holocaust sites in Poland. The initiative places particular emphasis on examining the role of police as perpetrators, including through engagement with lesser-known sites connected to deportations and mass violence.
A video message from Sylvia Löhrmann, Antisemitism Commissioner of North Rhine-Westphalia, was shared with participants, highlighting the importance of such educational efforts in reinforcing democratic values and institutional responsibility.
Dr. Andreas Kahrs of What Matters presented the project’s structure, motivations, and pedagogical approach. Through the use of historical sources and documentation, alongside visual material from the workshops and site visits, participants were given a deeper understanding of both the historical role of police during the Holocaust and the educational impact of the program over recent months.
A central component of the conference was the participation of police officers who had taken part in earlier stages of the initiative. In small-group discussions, they shared firsthand reflections on engaging with this history as members of a contemporary law enforcement institution, offering insight into how such experiences influence professional identity and ethical judgment.
The conference also addressed the question of how to measure the effectiveness of educational initiatives of this kind. Organizers presented a research-based perspective, exploring how qualitative methods can be used to assess changes in awareness, attitudes, and professional outlook among participants.
Throughout the event, informal discussions during breaks and networking sessions provided additional opportunities for exchange, with participants demonstrating strong engagement and interest in expanding cooperation across institutions.
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 policymakers and practitioners, the conference underscored the importance of sustained collaboration to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are 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.
