ErinnerungsZeit
Together against hatred
Join Ben, Sara and Naila in finding a way to combat the hatred in the building, win over residents as allies and draw inspiration from stories of persecution and resistance during the Nazi era to take action in solidarity today.
About the game
The visual novel ErinnerungsZeit brings together numerous perspectives: it offers insights into the diverse forms of non-violent resistance against Nazi injustice chosen by people who were systematically persecuted during the Nazi era. It also shows how various forms of misanthropic behaviour persist to this day, and offers ideas on what can be done to combat them.
The characters are inspired by historical and contemporary biographies and events. ErinnerungsZeit tells the stories of people from the Sinti and Roma, Black, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities who were systematically persecuted during the Nazi era and engaged in non-violent resistance against it. Players learn what people from these communities have been doing to combat inhumanity in the post-war years and up to the present day.
Another distinctive feature is the exploration of the perpetrator’s perspective: the game addresses the challenges faced by people who do not wish to discuss their own family’s attitudes and actions during the Nazi era, and what it means for them to be the children of perpetrators.
Gameplay
ErinnerungsZeit is a visual novel: a narrative and interactive medium. Players read to experience the plot, listen to sounds and music to immerse themselves more deeply, and make decisions to shape the course of the story:
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Choose perspectives: Decide for yourself which stories you explore
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Find allies: Win over residents of the house as supporters
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Connect history and the present: Experience how Nazi persecution and contemporary discrimination are linked
- Learning to take action: Gather inspiration for acts of solidarity in your own everyday life
Artists
The visual novel was illustrated by artists from the respective communities and invites you to speak with, rather than about, people who have experienced group-based hostility:
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Ayşe Klinge: Episodes on the experiences and perspectives of Black people
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B.Carrot: Storyboards on the experiences and perspectives of Jewish people
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Emanuel Barica: Episodes on the experiences and perspectives of Sinti and Roma
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Hamed Eshrat: Episodes on the perspectives of descendants of perpetrators
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Sanja Prautzsch: Episodes on the experiences and perspectives of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as final artwork for the episodes by B.Carrot
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Yorgos Konstantinou: Art Director and artistic realisation of the overarching narrative
Education & Use
ErinnerungsZeit is aimed at anyone aged 14 and over. The visual novel is primarily intended for use in the classroom or in extracurricular workshops, but can also be explored independently.
Learning objectives
Players engage with key themes:
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Non-violent resistance: What forms of resistance existed during the Nazi era?
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Diversity of persecution: Which groups were persecuted and why?
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Continuities: How do racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination continue to affect us today?
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Solidarity: What does it mean to be an ally?
The game promotes awareness of discrimination and privilege.
Areas of application
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History: Nazi era, persecution, resistance
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Ethics / Religion: Solidarity, moral courage, dealing with historical guilt
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Politics / Social Studies: Discrimination, human rights, democratic action
- Social learning: Empathy, changing perspectives, being an ally
Target audience
Ages 14 and over. Suitable for individual and group work as well as for workshops. Different storylines allow for varying game durations.
Funding
ErinnerungsZeit is a project of the Bildungsagenda NS-Unrecht, funded by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) and the Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future (EVZ).