Claude Lanzmann: The Recordings
Public Tour (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 being made accessible to the public. Previously unknown magnetic tape cassettes document numerous conversations he and his assistants conducted in the 1970s with Holocaust survivors, perpetrators, and bystanders.
The audio archive, created during the research for the film Shoah (1985), was donated to the Jewish Museum Berlin and was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2023.
Past event
Where
Old Building, ground level, “Meeting Point” in the foyer
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
The tour offers insights into Lanzmann’s research project and introduces the particularities of listening to historical audio sources. The reception of the interviews focuses on various aspects — for instance, the hesitation of survivors to speak about their experiences, or the strategies of denial, minimization, and deflection employed by the perpetrators.
Before and after listening to the audio recordings, there is space to discuss observations, thoughts, and emotions. The conversation about how we, as contemporary listeners, perceive these recordings is an integral part of the tour.
Please note that the audio 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?
- WhenSun 7 + 28 Dec 2025 + 11 Jan + 22 Feb + 22 Mar + 12 Apr 2026, 11 am & 27 Jan 2026, 4 pm
- Duration90 minutes
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Where
Old Building, ground level, “Meeting Point” in the foyer
Lindenstraße 9–14, 10969 Berlin
See location on map
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Entry fee
6 €, reduced rate 3 €
Please note The tour is for adults and students from grade 11 onwards.
