Digital Holocaust Historiography – A Conversation with Tobias Ebbrecht-Hartmann and Alina Bothe

In this episode we delve into the rapidly evolving field of digital Holocaust historiography, exploring how digital tools and artificial intelligence are reshaping the way we research, remember, and engage with Holocaust memory. Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Tobias Ebbrecht-Hartmann, Associate Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Dr. Alina Bothe, Project Director and Principal Investigator of the initiative #LastSeen – Pictures of Nazi Deportations.

We begin by examining the theoretical foundations of digital Holocaust historiography, discussing what it means to treat historical sources as interactive, curated digital objects, and exploring the ethical considerations that accompany this digital transformation. Then, we highlight groundbreaking projects such as VHH – Visual History of the Holocaust, #LastSeen, and Memorise, revealing how annotation, immersive testimonies, and spatial reconstruction bring new dimensions to historical memory.

Our guests then reflect on the broader implications of these technologies, addressing the methodological, ethical, and historiographical challenges of interpreting sensitive historical materials in digital environments. Finally, we discuss the collaborative nature of interdisciplinary research, sharing personal insights and practical advice for scholars navigating this exciting and complex new terrain.