As part of my postdoctoral research into transnational German-Jewish identity, I recently had the opportunity to explore the collections of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC). The VHEC houses a remarkable archive of personal papers, diaries, photographs, and memoirs, offering invaluable insights into the lived experiences of German-Jewish refugees and their descendants.
Among the highlights of my visit was Hilde’s Tagebuch, a poignant series of diaries written by a refugee father for his daughter. The volumes I consulted provide a rare window into the complexities of language loss, generational silence, and the reconstruction of identity in the aftermath of war. The volumes reflect the enduring challenges faced by survivors and their families as they navigated new cultural landscapes.
I was also particularly struck by materials from the Gesher Project, a creative initiative that amplifies the voices of second-generation descendants. Through personal writing and visual expression, participants grapple with the legacies of trauma and displacement, articulating the ongoing impact of the Holocaust across generations.
In addition to its physical archives, the VHEC maintains an extensive digitised collection, including a wealth of oral histories. These recorded testimonies serve as a vital resource for scholars and the wider public, illuminating the diversity of German-Jewish exile experiences across the globe.
Visits to archives such as the VHEC are a powerful reminder of the global reach of German-Jewish memory. Institutions like the VHEC play a crucial role in preserving, interpreting, and transmitting these histories, ensuring that the voices of survivors and their descendants continue to resonate across time and place.
Article and photos by Monja Stahlberger
Cover of Paul Meyer’s diary: Diary of Paul Meyer [after 1938] 98.007.002, Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, Writings, publications and ephemera series (RA038-03). Meyer family fonds.
First page of Paul Meyer’s diary: Diary of Paul Meyer [after 1938] 98.007.002, Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, Writings, publications and ephemera series (RA038-03). Meyer family fonds.
