Leadership programs at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
(Washington DC, United States)
Since 1998, the USHMMM has been offering educational programs for government officials such as the army, police, judges and prosecutors from the judiciary. These professionals, who can judge the life and freedom of citizens, always work in tandem with each other. In the pre-war Weimar republic, these professionals wrestle faithful to the constitution of a democracy and had the expertise to carry out their duties based on laws, individual rights and freedoms. Given their position, power, authority and trust, they were able to prevent the Holocaust. And yet they failed in protecting the democracy that could rebel against the Nazi dictatorship and the implementation of the Nazi ideologies. After almost 20 years of preparation, USHMMM has developed an educational approach that involves professionals in investigating why and how the Holocaust could happen and instigates reflection on one’s own professional actions and responsibilities in combating injustice. The pedagogical approach includes: 1. the historical context that shows how the Holocaust originated and what is needed to carry out such large-scale atrocities; 2. Cases analysing the motivation, pressure and choices of individuals to facilitate or complicate the Holocaust; 3. Discussion with the participants about their own role in contemporary society.
