Holocaust and Far Right: An Evening for Historical Clarity in Erfurt
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When History Becomes a Political Weapon
How is the Holocaust denied, downplayed, or relativized – and what role do such strategies play in the far right? The lecture followed by a panel discussion at the memorial site Topf & Söhne will address a highly relevant topic in historical education and democratic memory culture on October 27, 2026.
Historical Context with Dr. Maik Tändler
The event will begin with a lecture by Dr. Maik Tändler, a research associate at the Institute for Contemporary History Munich–Berlin. Tändler researches the history of conservatism, far-right intellectual networks, and the development of the far right in Germany. His work combines source-based history with a precise analysis of political ideas and societal impacts.
The focus will be on how far-right actors reinterpret historical facts, obscure Nazi crimes, or politically instrumentalize the memory of the Holocaust. The event thus provides a solid approach to a thematic field that is equally relevant for history education, political education, and public debate.
Panel Discussion on Memory and Responsibility
Following this, there will be a panel discussion with Prof. Dr. Christiane Kuller, who works on modern and contemporary history as well as history didactics at the University of Erfurt, and Prof. Dr. Annegret Schüle from the memorial site Topf & Söhne. The discussion will be moderated by Michael Weise, historians for a democratic society.
The discussion round expands the lecture with different perspectives: historical research, history didactics, museum memory work, and democratic civil society intersect. The event format creates space for contextualization, controversial questions, and a factual engagement with the mechanisms of historical revisionism.
A Memorial Site with Special Significance
The memorial site Topf & Söhne in Erfurt offers a particularly intense setting for this topic. The exhibition and educational work of the house deal with the history of the company Topf & Söhne and its involvement in the Nazi extermination crimes. The ambiance combines historical responsibility with an open, dialogue-oriented event culture.
The mood of the audience is created not through light entertainment, but through concentrated attention, reflection, and mutual exchange. The event planning format is particularly interesting because it connects lecture, panel discussion, and political education.
Conclusion: Understanding History, Strengthening Democracy
Visitors can expect a professionally grounded evening on Holocaust denial, historical revisionism, and the strategies of the far right. The lecture and the subsequent panel discussion invite participants to examine historical contexts, better contextualize current debates, and discuss responsibility in memory culture. Admission is free.
Official Channels of Dr. Maik Tändler:
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