PTS | Summary of the Workshop “Oral History and Holocaust Memory Research in Slovakia”

On April 22, 2024 a special event marked the 30th anniversary of the first oral history research into the life stories of Holocaust survivors in Slovakia. As part of the #outofthebox workshop series organized by the Trauma Institute, during a hybrid lecture, Dr. Monika Vrzgulová presented her reflections and findings from decades of studying Holocaust memory using approaches from oral history, memory studies, and autoethnography.

She highlighted results from two international research projects conducted in Slovakia, now accessible to both scholars and the public. Her talk emphasized how these projects have influenced academic research, shaped collective memory of the Holocaust in Slovakia, and impacted intergenerational dialogue. Dr. Vrzgulová also placed these findings within the broader social and political context of a post-communist Slovakia still grappling with its historical legacy. The discussion following the lecture concerned various important topics, such as the methodology of research on the Holocaust, the definition of trauma, secondary trauma in researchers, and many more.

We are grateful to Dr. Vrzgulová for her visit and an inspiring talk and are looking forward to welcoming you at other fascinating events at SFU.