MÜNSTER - In late October 2024, a new transnational educational initiative examining the role of police forces during the Holocaust was launched at the Villa ten Hompel in Münster, Germany. Titled The Police and the Holocaust, the project brings together German and Austrian police officers for a multi-part educational journey across several key historical sites in Europe.
At the heart of the initiative is a central question: how does confronting the historical involvement of police institutions in Nazi crimes shape the responsibilities, values, and professional conduct of modern law enforcement today?
The project is jointly implemented by the Villa ten Hompel, the World Jewish Congress (WJC), and the NGO What Matters—three organizations with extensive expertise in Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism. It is funded by the European Commission under the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) programme.
The Police and the Holocaust underscores the European and transnational dimensions of the Holocaust and contributes to preserving its memory as a cornerstone of the European Union’s values and commitments. The initiative seeks to encourage policymakers and public officials to establish sustainable frameworks and to integrate Holocaust education as a core component of police training in the future.
A Transnational Educational Journey
A central element of the project is a educational journey involving selected participants. Over the course of the program, the groups will travel to Münster, Westerbork in the Netherlands, and Vienna, before a group of officers will embark on a five-day study visit to Holocaust sites in today South East Poland.
This journey retraces the historical paths of Ordnungspolizei (uniformed police) officers—from planning centers such as the Villa ten Hompel to execution sites associated with the “Holocaust by bullets.” At each event, participants examine how ordinary police officers became perpetrators of mass violence and reflect on how these historical crimes continue to shape modern policing across national borders.
High Demand and Innovative Approach
The strong interest in the program highlights its relevance: nearly 200 police officers submitted motivational letters to apply for places.
The project introduces two key innovations in Holocaust education. First, it specifically targets law enforcement professionals, tailoring educational content to their institutional roles and ethical responsibilities. Second, it incorporates lesser-known Holocaust sites into its curriculum, fostering a more nuanced understanding of how genocide was implemented across Europe.
With the expertise of the Villa ten Hompel, the program addresses significant gaps in knowledge among German and Austrian police officers regarding the historical role of police institutions during the Holocaust. Education remains a crucial tool in combating antisemitism and extremism and in strengthening democratic values within Europe’s security institutions.
Opening Event in Münster
The project’s opening seminar in Münster focused on building a shared foundation among participants. Officers were invited to get to know one another, articulate their expectations, and reflect on their personal values and professional motivations.
A participatory tour of the permanent exhibition “History – Violence – Conscience” at the Villa ten Hompel formed the core of the program. The exhibition highlights the scope of crimes committed by the German Ordnungspolizei, the individual choices available to officers at the time, and the lack of accountability and reckoning in postwar German society.
By directly engaging with these historical realities, participants were encouraged to connect past atrocities with their responsibilities today—particularly in safeguarding Jewish communities and upholding ethical standards in contemporary policing.
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.
