Entangled narratives of terror: Maly Trostenets and Blagovshchina forest in history and memory, 1937-2022

Research output: PhD ThesisPhD thesis

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the questions of what Maly Trostenets and Blagovshchina were, what happened there before, during and after the German occupation of Minsk, and how the history of these places was told afterwards. In both literature and memory culture, the forced labour camp Maly Trostenets and the murder site in the Blagovshchina forest, located near Minsk, are considered one and the same site of terror: 'Maly Trostenets'. Because little research has been conducted on the histories of these sites, they have remained relatively unknown to the general public and in particular its memory has been studied. This lead to a simplification of its history. This thesis–based on an analysis of archival material from thirteen international archives, oral history sources and observations during research trips–therefore treats the sites as parallel but entangled histories of Nazi terror in order to place them within in the context of larger patterns or schemes of the Holocaust and the history of 20th century Europe.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
  • University of Amsterdam
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Adler, Nanci, Promotor
  • Berkhoff, Karel, Co-promotor
Award date17 Feb 2023
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2023

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