VIENNA — The Police and the Holocaust initiative brought participating police officers to Vienna for a focused examination of the persecution of Austrian Jews and the role of police institutions at the local level.
For many participants, the extent of police involvement in these crimes had not been fully understood prior to the program. The workshop began with a guided walking tour of Vienna, where historical photographs were used to anchor discussions at specific sites, including locations where Jewish residents were subjected to public humiliation and violence following the Nazi takeover.
A central component of the workshop was an interactive exercise tracing the escalation of Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945. Participants worked together to construct a detailed timeline, mapping the parallel progression of war, radicalization, and antisemitic policy. The exercise encouraged reflection on how genocidal processes unfolded incrementally, rather than as a single, isolated event.
Further sessions examined the institutional structure of the SS and German police under Nazi rule. Participants were introduced to the integration of police forces into the SS apparatus under Heinrich Himmler, a development that highlighted the central role of law enforcement in implementing Nazi policies. Expert input from Thomas Köhler of the Villa ten Hompel provided additional insight into the transformation of police institutions during this period.
The workshop also explored the connection between the so-called “euthanasia” program within the German Reich and the establishment of the Aktion Reinhardt extermination camps in occupied Poland. Participants examined how personnel, methods, and operational knowledge were transferred, contributing directly to the systematization of mass murder.
Geographical mapping of deportation routes and killing sites in eastern Poland—locations visited by participants during the program—provided further context for understanding the scale and coordination of these crimes.
The workshop concluded with a structured reflection session, during which participants connected the historical lessons of the program to their current professional responsibilities. Discussions emphasized the importance of ethical judgment, institutional accountability, and the role of law enforcement in safeguarding democratic values and protecting Jewish life in Europe today.
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 combining historical analysis with practical reflection, the program seeks to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain embedded within contemporary frameworks of police education and 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.
