News

The research in the history of the Lithuanian Jewry and the Holocaust that is little known to researchers from other countries and has been going on for more than ten years in Lithuania was presented to a wider academic community abroad at the international colloquium of historians “No Simple Stories” in London.

The colloquium was co-organized by the University College London (UCL) and the Lithuanian Institute of History.

Among the participants of the colloquium there were prominent researchers of the history of Eastern European Jews and the World War II, who are well known around the world and in the academic community: Antony Polonsky (U.S.A.), Saulius Sužiedėlis (U.S.A.), Joachim Tauber (Germany), Heinz-Dietrich Löwe (Germany), and others.

During the event, the historians presented concise summary of research on the Holocaust which was carried out by Nazis and their collaborators in Lithuania.

On 6-7 February, historians organized three panels to share their insights into the cultural, economic and political interaction of various groups of the Lithuanian society at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. Historians discussed in detail the short-lived recognition of Jewish national minority rights in the interwar period, the growth of anti-Semitic sentiment in the fourth decade of the 20th century and the breakdown of Lithuanian civil society facing first Soviet and then German occupation.

“We hope that the colloquium will prompt closer cooperation among researchers and academic communities in Lithuania, Israel, the U.S.A, U.K., Germany and Poland,” Lithuanian Ambassador in London Oskaras Jusys said.

The discussion of historians “Why is it still difficult to speak about the Holocaust in Lithuania today” aimed at addressing current issues in today’s Lithuania and took place in a non-academic environment.

The colloquium is accompanied by a series of events, which reflect on the ongoing in Lithuania research of the Litvak legacy, contemplation and discussions about the tragic events of the 20th century.

In London, the exhibitions “The Sounds of Silence: traces of Jewish life in Lithuania”, “The Synagogues of Lithuania” were opened and the following films were screened: “The World Was Ours: The Jewish Legacy of Vilna” (the U.S.A., 2006), and “I Leave My Child to You” (Lithuania, 2005), “Yitgadal V’yitkadash: Memorial Statues in the Strashun Forest”.

The programme of the events also includes the Vilner Klezmorim (traditional secular music of Jews) concert with the participation of Petras Vyšniauskas (saxophone), Raimondas Sviackevičius (accordion), Borisas Kirzneris (violin), Arkadijus Gotesmanas (percussion) and Liora Grodnikaitė (vocal).

The events were sponsored by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, the Lithuanian Embassy in the United Kingdom helped to organize them.

The Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania has declared 2011 as Year of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust in Lithuania.