Beyond Auschwitz? Europe’s Terrorscapes in the Age of Postmemory

Auschwitz-Birkenau, as a symbol of Nazi atrocities, continues to evoke profound emotional responses even among contemporary European audiences. This study highlights the contrasting reactions of two diverse groups—Dutch football players and a popular deejay—to their visits to the site, illustrating how postmemory shapes individual engagement with historical trauma. The research employs qualitative analysis of media narratives surrounding these visits, revealing that spontaneous public gestures, often driven by personal triggers like Holocaust Memorial Day or childhood curiosity, can serve as potent acts of remembrance. While the football players' visit was framed within a broader UEFA Championship context, the deejay's impromptu trip underscored a personal reckoning with historical ignorance. Together, these episodes underscore the enduring power of Auschwitz-Birkenau as both a physical and symbolic 'terrorscape,' challenging assumptions about collective memory in postmemory societies.

van der Laarse, R. (2013). Beyond Auschwitz? Europe’s Terrorscapes in the Age of Postmemory. Memory and Postwar Memorials, 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137343529_5