Power in Leadership Roles is Embraced by Women - Rediscovering Holocaust Learning: This individual is reconsidering the convention of classroom instruction.
Holocaust Discourse Amid TikTok Dances and Tutorials? Unconventional Yet Effective! With around 200,000 followers on her TikTok channel 'keine.erinnerungskultur', Susanne Siegert is a testament to this fact. She's a significant figure in the dissemination of Holocaust history, holding a prominent position among the digital mediators of this historical era. She's managed to accomplish what many have not - delivering substantial history lessons in just 90 seconds on TikTok.
Why does it work so effectively? According to Siegert, featured on the 'Die Boss' podcast from stern, "Young people are highly interested in Nazi atrocities and often raise thought-provoking questions regarding their personal and familial roles. These queries might not find answers in the rigid confines of classroom instruction but may necessitate alternative formats."
Siegert advocates for a more thoughtful usage of TikTok, particularly by political figures. She highlights that for years, this platform has been overlooked as a tool for serious dissemination.
In a conversation with Simone Menne, she openly criticizes politicians like Söder, Scholz, et al., for their content, labeling it a "shame." She also discusses how the far-right party, AfD, effectively utilizes TikTok.
"We, as members of the perpetrator nation, have a habit of making things easy on ourselves when it comes to remembrance, often placing an undue burden on survivors."
Her videos demonstrate that even complex topics can be tailored for platforms like TikTok - in her case, 'remembrance work'. Susanne Siegert prefers the term 'remembrance work' over 'remembrance culture'. She believes the former term is less reliant on survivors and eyewitnesses, whose numbers are dwindling.
"As members of the perpetrator nation, it's our responsibility to step up and shoulder this burden. It's no longer feasible to pass it on to survivors."
Regarding her Holocaust clarification work, she states, "One is never truly done learning." Her channel is a testament to her passion, as she sometimes spends weeks researching individual stories and delves deep into the subject. Despite working from home and not being a historian, she showcases that anyone with the right initiative can contribute to this critical work. She discusses her methods, handling of hate comments, and personal growth in an interview.
In 'Die Boss – Power is Female', influential women engage in conversation. Host and multi-board member Simone Menne (BMW, Deutsche Post DHL, Henkel) talks to female CEOs across various sectors, offering insights into their lives and careers. 'Die Boss' is released every two weeks on Wednesdays on stern.de and RTL+, as well as on major podcast platforms.**
Editor's Note: Stern is a part of RTL Germany.
Susanne Siegert often discusses the importance of addressing Holocaust history in Germany, as she believes that young people are deeply interested in the subject and seek answers that might not be found in traditional classroom settings. In a critique of certain political figures, she noted their lackluster use of TikTok for serious dissemination and pointed out how the far-right party, AfD, effectively utilizes the platform.
