Listening to History. Claude Lanzmann's Interviews on the Holocaust
An Audio Tour for Blind and Sighted Visitors (in German)
The exhibition Claude Lanzmann. The Recordings makes history audible. For the first time, the audio archive of Claude Lanzmann – the French filmmaker and chronicler of the Shoah – is accessible to the public.
Previously unknown reel-to-reel tapes document numerous conversations he and his assistants conducted in the 1970s with Holocaust survivors, perpetrators, and other witnesses.
Where
Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Gallery
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
The audio archive was created during the research for the film Shoah (1985). It was donated to the Jewish Museum Berlin and was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2023.
This guided tour offers insights into Lanzmann’s research project and introduces the specifics of listening to historical audio sources. Participants can listen to selected recordings through headphones. Careful listening reveals various aspects, such as the hesitation of survivors to speak about their experiences or the denial and deflection strategies used by perpetrators. Before and after the listening session, there is time to discuss observations, thoughts, and feelings. Reflecting on how we, as listeners in the present, perceive these recordings is an integral part of the tour.
Please note: The recordings contain accounts of severe acts of violence.
Exhibition Claude Lanzmann: The Recordings: Features & Programs
Exhibition Webpage
Claude Lanzmann: The Recordings: 28 Nov 2025 to 12 Apr 2026
Conference
The Sound of History. Claude Lanzmann’s Preparation for Shoah: Conference from 9 to 10 Feb 2026
See also
- The Lanzmann Collection: Projects to catalog, preserve, and share the legacy of the audio cassettes from this holding of the Jewish Museum Berlin
- The Lanzmann Collection on the Oral-History.Digital (OH.D) online platform: All audio recordings from the Lanzmann Collection will be available on OH.D by the end of 2027 (registration required)
- JMB di.kla: Online offering on the topic of the Shoah for grades 11 and above
Where, when, what?
- WhenThu 2 Apr 2026, 3 pm
- Duration120 minutes
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Where
Libeskind Building, ground level, Eric F. Ross Gallery
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
See location on map
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Entry fee
6 €, reduced rate 3 €
Please note This tour is in German, and is intended for people who are blind or visually impaired, each accompanied by a sighted companion.
