Graphic Novels Bring Holocaust History to Life at Potsdam Memorial

The Lindenstrasse Memorial Foundation in Potsdam is utilizing the power of graphic novels to engage new audiences with the stories of those persecuted by the Nazis and, later, the Stasi. Building on the success of their 2021 publication, “Border Lines – Ways Out of the GDR,” the foundation has released a new volume, “Unforgotten,” featuring six individual narratives.

A New Approach to Historical Storytelling

Inspired by Art Spiegelman’s groundbreaking work, Maus, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1992, the memorial foundation is leveraging the graphic novel format to convey complex historical events in a compelling and accessible manner. The initial graphic novel, “Border Lines,” proved successful in reaching a wider audience, leading to a third edition with a print run of 4,500 copies. “Unforgotten” is launching with an initial print run of 3,000 copies.

“Unforgotten”: Six Stories of Persecution

“Unforgotten” details the experiences of six individuals whose lives were impacted by Nazi persecution in Potsdam. The stories are based on historically verified biographies and are illustrated by different artists, each bringing a unique style to the narratives. The individuals featured include:

• Werner Seelenbinder: An Olympic athlete and communist who was sentenced to death by the People’s Court in Potsdam for his resistance to the Nazi regime.
• Erika Martins: A woman who fell in love with a Polish forced laborer.
• Horst Sette: A man forcibly sterilized due to his epilepsy.
• Gerhard Schiller: A man murdered for refusing to wear the Jewish star.
• Walter Dubois: A French forced laborer.
• Mirjam David: A woman who endured trauma whereas imprisoned in a women’s prison.

Artistic Choices and Narrative Depth

The graphic novels employ a variety of artistic techniques to enhance the storytelling. The story of Werner Seelenbinder is rendered primarily in black and white, with touches of red symbolizing communist influence. Erika Martins’ story utilizes a broader color palette, with reds representing bloodshed and blues conveying coldness. Each story is supplemented by a four-page appendix providing biographical details beyond the visual narrative.

Accessibility and Outreach

Both “Borderlines” and “Unforgotten” are available free of charge at the Lindenstrasse Memorial House in Potsdam, including class sets for educational purposes. The official launch of “Unforgotten” will take place on March 18th. More information can be found on the foundation’s website: www.gedenkstaette-lindenstrasse.de.

The foundation aims to reach a younger audience and foster a deeper understanding of the crimes committed by the Nazis and Stasi, not through lecturing, but through emotional storytelling and the power of narrative.