Shattered spaces

More about the book

After the Holocaust, many German and Polish cities were left with empty, silent spaces where vibrant Jewish life once thrived, including bombed-out synagogues and cemeteries. The postwar landscape raised questions about what happened to these sites and how Germans, Poles, and Jews have engaged with these remnants over the past sixty years. In the immediate aftermath, city officials often demolished many sites despite protests from Jewish leaders. However, by the late 1970s, a movement emerged among church groups, local residents, political dissidents, and tourists advocating for the preservation of the remaining ruins. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the push to restore and maintain these sites intensified. This shift marks a significant and often overlooked change in postwar European history, as the neglected traces of Jewish heritage began to be recognized, fueled by heritage tourism, a nostalgia for ruins, and international dialogue about the Holocaust. Michael Meng explores this transformation, revealing a shared memory of tensions that transcends the East-West divide in Central Europe. His narrative highlights the evolving dynamics between local and transnational perspectives as various groups confront a built environment shaped by time. This work exemplifies urban history, uncovering a poignant postwar narrative of contemporary relevance.