National Holocaust Centre in Newark warns about anti-Jewish conspiracy theories online
The warning comes on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
Figures from the National Holocaust Centre in Newark have raised concerns about the increasing spread of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories online, warning that such narratives echo historical patterns of normalizing hatred.
Their caution comes on Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp.
This day serves as a reminder of the six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust, alongside millions more killed under Nazi persecution.
Maiken Umbach, Professor of Modern History at the University of Nottingham and Chief Academic Advisor at the National Holocaust Museum, emphasized the dangers posed by conspiracy theories, particularly those targeted at Jewish communities.
Such ideas, which she feels is amplified by the ability to share the content on social media platforms, risk resurrecting the same prejudices that contributed to systematic hatred in the past, ultimately fostering anti-Jewish sentiments in society.
"We try to show that the Holocaust was only possible because it built on a 2000 year history, in which anti Jewish hatred had become normalised. So we try and make that history visible and also show that sadly, this story did not end in 1945.
"Anti Jewish hatred, and especially in the form of conspiracy theories, is still very much with us today."
Education as a way forward
The National Holocaust Museum in Newark offers various programmes to combat prejudice through education. Using historical context and exhibitions that highlight the Holocaust’s roots, the Museum seeks to foster critical thinking skills among visitors, including school groups, to help them challenge harmful narratives.
Interactive exhibits, such as the Dialogue Box titled “What does it mean to be a Witness,” enable visitors to explore artefacts like a postcard secretly sent from Auschwitz-Birkenau and items carried by survivors as their last connection to home.
These initiatives help future generations engage deeply with the lessons of the Holocaust and understand their relevance to the present day.
The Museum is also set to host powerful survivor testimonies, including from Eva Clarke BEM, born on a coal wagon at Mauthausen concentration camp just days before its liberation.
Her story highlights both her mother’s survival during unimaginable hardships and their journey after the war.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme, ‘Bridging Generations,’ underscores the importance of intergenerational dialogue to preserve Holocaust memory and connect it to the present. It reminds us that the responsibility of remembrance does not end with survivors but continues through their descendants and all who listen and learn.
“The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilization,” a representative of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said.
“Discrimination and persecution must still be resisted every day. Prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.”
With figures like Umbach warning about growing anti-Jewish rhetoric online, Holocaust Memorial Day is hoped to serve not only as a reflection on the past but also as an urgent reminder of the need for vigilance and action against hatred today.