Spuren lesbar machen: New Approaches to NS Forced Labor History in Roggendorf through Art and Science

This event presents a book that details the interdisciplinary research into the history of National Socialist forced labor at the Roggendorf granite works. It explores new approaches to historical research that combine academic study with artistic methods and community engagement to make the past visible.

This book presentation focuses on the publication "Spuren lesbar machen. Das NS-Zwangslager im Granitwerk Roggendorf. Neue Formen der Geschichtsaufarbeitung zwischen Kunst und Wissenschaft." The book showcases the findings of an interdisciplinary team that investigated the history of National Socialist forced labor at the Roggendorf granite works near Pulkau between 2022 and 2023. This site saw the forced labor of prisoners of war, 'Ostarbeiter,' and Hungarian-Jewish families from 1941 to 1945, a history that had long been absent from local memory. The project developed an approach integrating historical research, artistic interventions, and memory culture practices, connecting material and immaterial traces with scientific and participatory methods. The book demonstrates how contemporary memory culture, the significance of NS violence sites, local micro-histories, and public involvement can be synthesized to research, document, and discuss the history of the camp. Numerous residents of Pulkau contributed to the research and organization, making the book a testament to collaborative historical and artistic exploration. The event will feature discussions with the editors, the research team, and local participants.

Registration is required by February 16, 2026, via email to the provided address. Please bring a valid photo ID. By attending, participants consent to the publication of photos, video, and audio recordings made during the event.