Using Maria’s story as an example, the workshop demonstrates how the memorial’s archive works with historical sources.
During the workshop, participants first familiarize themselves with the Buchenwald Memorial archive, its collections, and its functions.
Next, working in small groups, they examine various records related to Maria Brzęcka-Kosk, including her drawings, her writings, personal objects, and an interview recording.
They then view her story from a completely different perspective by analysing the imprisonment records created about her by the SS.
In doing so, participants practice interpreting sources - specifically, critically questioning and contextualizing the perpetrator documents typical for the Nazi concentration camp system.
Key aspects of the workshop:
• What is an archive, and how do documents and objects end up there?
• What can personal records reveal about the life of a young person like Maria in the camp?
• What do SS documents reveal about a prisoner, and what do they leave out?
• What questions remain unanswered, and how can further research be conducted?
The workshop combines plenary discussions with source-based work at various stations in small groups.
Duration: 3 hours.
Target audience: Students in grade 10 and above, university students and other interested groups.
