Just days before the International Day of Commemoration in memory of Holocaust victims and the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation (January 27th), the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) released its first-ever, eight-country Index on Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness.
The survey reveals a concerning global trend of diminishing knowledge about basic Holocaust facts. In the surveyed countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Romania - large portions of the population are unaware that 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Alarmingly, among 18-29-year-olds, many believe the number of Jewish victims has been exaggerated.
Shocking as well, some respondents admitted they had never heard of the Holocaust, or weren't sure if they had, before taking the survey. When asked to name concentration camps, killing centers, or ghettos, nearly half (48%) of Americans could not identify a single one of the more than 40,000 camps established during WWII. Auschwitz-Birkenau was the most commonly recognized name.
Despite this lack of knowledge, the majority of respondents believe that something like the Holocaust could happen again today. On a more hopeful note, there is strong support for Holocaust education: in every country surveyed, more than nine out of ten adults agree that it's crucial to continue teaching about the Holocaust to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
However, the survey also highlighted the concerning spread of Holocaust denial, misinformation, and distortion, particularly on social media platforms like X and Facebook. "The alarming gaps in knowledge, particularly among younger generations, highlight an urgent need for more effective Holocaust education. The fact that a significant number of adults cannot identify basic facts - such as the 6 million Jews who perished - is deeply concerning," Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference stated in a press release announcing the survey. "Equally troubling is the widespread belief that something like the Holocaust could happen again, underscoring the critical importance of educating people about the consequences of unchecked hatred and bigotry."
There are many ways to educate ourselves, and for younger generations, the graphic novel format may be an ideal choice. Several authors have employed this medium to tell real stories or create equally compelling fictional narratives.
From today until February 10th, there's a special exhibition entitled "Holokaust c komikse" (Holocaust in Comics) showcasing comic book illustrations from graphic novels about the Holocaust at the Old Town Library in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The exhibition covers a wide spectrum: from biographical accounts to imaginative storytelling, historically accurate reconstructions and intimate portraits, including works such as Paolo Bacilieri's Ettore e Fernanda, (Ettore and Fernanda), Lorena Canottiere and Julian Voloj's "Bartali, la scelta silenziosa di un campione" (Bartali, the silent choice of a champion), "Una stella tranquilla: Ritratto sentimentale di Primo Levi" (A Calm Star: A Sentimental Portrait of Primo Levi) by PIetro Scarnera, and "X-Men: Magneto Testament" by Greg Pak, illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico. These artists approach the Holocaust from a variety of angles, using different narrative and artistic styles.
Paolo Bacilieri's "Ettore e Fernanda" tells the remarkable story of Ettore Modigliani and Fernanda Wittgens, who devoted their lives to art as a means of preserving humanity and educating the public. Modigliani, the director of Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera, famously shipped over 900 masterpieces of Italian art to London for a major exhibition in 1930. His antifascist beliefs and Jewish background eventually led to his dismissal, forced confinement, and professional persecution under the fascist regime.
Fernanda Wittgens, his brilliant assistant, succeeded him in 1940 as the first woman in Italy to lead a major museum. She heroically protected the Pinacoteca's treasures from bombings and looting during WWII, was imprisoned by fascists for helping Jewish families escape, and played a key role in the museum's post-war reconstruction.
Through the evocative imagery and vibrant colors of Lorena Canottiere, and the meticulously researched writing of Julian Voloj, "Bartali: La scelta silenziosa di un campione" tells the story of Italian cycling champion Gino Bartali, from his sporting triumphs to his secret work during World War II, helping Jews escape Nazi-Fascist persecution.
After the enactment of racial laws, Bartali, at the request of Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, joined the Delasem underground network. Using his bicycle as a courier, he transported secret messages and forged documents, assisting countless Jews, both Italians and refugees, to evade the horrors of Nazi-Fascist persecution. This life-threatening act of heroism, which he never boasted about, earned him Israel's recognition as "Righteous Among the Nations" many years later.
"Una Stella Tranquilla" offers a fresh perspective on Primo Levi, looking at his time in Auschwitz, but also exploring his career as a writer and scientist. This graphic novel combines biography, documentary, and fiction, drawing from photographs, book covers, and personal artifacts, such as the copper-wire masks Levi created, to bring his multifaceted life to the page.
"X-Men: Magneto Testament" takes a different path, following the origin story of the X-Men character Magneto and tracing the life of young Jewish boy Max Eisenhardt, fighting for survival in Nazi Germany and the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Some of these graphic novels were translated into other languages, others are only available in Italian, but the real-life protagonists behind these stories stand as powerful symbols of resilience amid darkness. It is of crucial importance to remember their legacies because, as Primo Levi wisely said, "All those who forget their past are condemned to relive it."
The exhibition will close on 10th February with a special event featuring comic book expert and curator Nicola D'Agostino.
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