Erinnerungskultur zwischen Dominanz und Dezentrierung. Migrationspädagogische Analysen einer Seminarexkursion zu einem „Täterort“

The question of whether anti-Semitism and racism can be discussed together has been the subject of public and professional debate for several years whereas it is noticeable that there is little empirical research on teaching-learning settings in which knowledge on the topic is (re)negotiated. Dealing with current racism and anti-Semitism raises questions about how students (and teachers) deal with the singularity thesis and how debates critical of racism and anti-Semitism take place.

Dominant forms of the German culture of remembrance can be criticized for contributing to a re-nationalization and white supremacy. Against this background, we analyze empirical material from a seminar excursion entitled “Right-wing terror—then and now”. The seminar took place at a so-called “perpetrator site”, where Nazi cadres were trained and where a documentation center stands today. We analyze how students position themselves in relation to the non-migration society perspective presented there. The analysis of the students’ appropriation of exhibition content shows first of all the persistence of the master narrative of national history policies, but also the ability to connect to decentrating perspectives on the culture of remembrance.