Nazi inquiries gains momentum in Arolsen Archives

 

Emmanuel Thomas, DPA  I Sunday, July 23, 2023

 

BAD AROLSEN – The internationally managed Arolsen Archives, which documents victims of Nazi persecution and forced labour, has received significantly more enquiries so far this year.

The collection, which includes references to roughly 17.5 million people, is considered the world’s most comprehensive collection on Nazi persecution and helps clarify the fate of those persecuted by the Nazis.

According to a spokeswoman for the Arolsen Archives, 10,636 enquiries were registered by the beginning of July. In the same period last year, there were 8,605. That is an increase of 23.6%.

The spokeswoman said that requests to the archive had dropped in 2021 and 2022, when 15,610 and 15,300 were received, respectively. That compares with 18,810 enquiries in 2020, she said.

The Arolsen Archives, which are located in the central German town of Bad Arolsen, is governed by a committee representing 16 different countries.

It was created during World War II as a registration and tracing service for missing persons and played an important role in helping families learn the fate of relatives who fell victim to the Nazis. The archives are also an important source of information for those seeking compensation.

For many years, the Arolsen Archives were known as the International Tracing Service (ITS). The Arolsen Archives’ leadership has been clouded by controversy recently over allegations from current and former employees of bullying, abuse of power and sexism.

The board commissioned an investigation into the allegations by an independent law firm but has left the leadership in place until the final report is completed.