A decade of progress in documentation of the Holocaust

The Arolsen Archives in Germany enjoy international renown as an institution dedicated to preserving and providing access to Holocaust-related records.

As has recently been reported in the JC (“Probe into ‘culture of fear’ at Nazi archive”, by Dan Stone, July 14), it has also been subject to negative press regarding allegations from former and current employees.

The allegations are currently being investigated. As the UK’s expert representative to the International Commission of the International Tracing Service (ITS), Arolsen’s predecessor organisation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this ongoing process.

Floriane Azoulay has been director of the Arolsen Archives since January 2016. credt Arolsen Archives

Accused: Archive director Floriane Azoulay (Photo: Arolsen Archives)

I will, however, offer some observations on the achievements of Arolsen Archives over the past decade. As “the largest archive of Nazi persecution”, Professor Stone has called attention to Arolsen as “a breathtaking monument in its own right” that has fallen under a cloud.

Professor Stone is undoubtedly correct to point out that the history of this archive “remains bound up with the UK” and that caring for its contents is of the utmost importance.

As the Director of The Wiener Holocaust Library (WHL), I have been proud to observe the sensitive and skilful work of colleagues who render the digital copy of millions of records meaningful to hundreds of families each year.

The WHL actively reaches out to Jewish communities across Britain through our project Recovery & Repair, which helps family researchers looking for information on relatives persecuted in the Holocaust.

Professor Stone raises understandable concerns about the need to strike a balance between public relations and deep research work.

Yet relevant and engaging outreach programmes, like the pioneering and phenomenally popular #everynamecounts crowdsourcing project, need not contradict or come at the expense of serious scholarship.

As Stone himself points out in the conclusion of his book Fate Unknown, a huge amount of positive change has occurred at Bad Arolsen over the years.