Preserving memories together – exploring history

In Lower Austria, as throughout the German Reich and the occupied territories, thousands of people were forced into labour during the Second World War – prisoners of war, Hungarian Jewish labourers, and many other civilians. Much of this story is still little known and only partly documented. Yet many traces remain in private hands: letters, photographs, and family memories passed down through generations – in Lower Austria and around the world among the descendants of former forced labourers, employers and neighbours. Our platform brings these precious sources together, preserves them, and invites everyone to take part in keeping these memories alive.

To begin building this platform, we are focusing on two main themes: Hungarian Jewish forced labour and the Stalag XVII B Krems-Gneixendorf prisoner-of-war camp in Lower Austria.
Do you have any related memories, documents or photos? Or are you interested in collaborating on this project?

We are looking for:

📌 Interested individuals who can support us in setting up the platform and conducting research
📌 Digitized photos and documents relating to the history of forced labour in Lower Austria
📌 Eyewitness accounts and family memories
📌 People who would like to research the history of forced labour in specific locations or individual fates
📌 People who would like to get in touch—local residents or descendants of former forced labourers

👉 Share your materials and memories!
👉 Join us in this research and connect with others!

Would you like to participate or sign up for our newsletter?

Contact us:
Carl Philipp Hoffmann: connectingmemories@donau-uni.ac.at
University for Continuing Education Krems, Department for Arts & Cultural Studies, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems.
Tel: +43 2732 893-2545