‘I thank God for a free South Africa’: Translation in Holocaust Memorial Site Visitor-Books, 1990-2024
‘I thank God for a free South Africa’: Translation in Holocaust Memorial Site Visitor-Books, 1990-2024

Summary/Abstract: This article examines visitor-books (VBs) at Holocaust memorial sites during a period of significant transformation in their management, visitor demographics, and institutional identity. Focusing on Dachau Memorial, Mauthausen Memorial, and the Anne Frank House, it considers how visitors engage with the history of National Socialism while navigating the challenge of its translation into personal reflection. Disputing pervasive interpretations of ‘the’ visitor as ignorant or disengaged, I highlight a participatory discourse where visitors actively negotiate memory in writing. Drawing from hermeneutics, discourse analysis, and the spatial studies, I explore VBs as tools for understanding the impact of memorial sites on diverse audiences, revealing three themes: contemporary analogy, experiential intimacy, and individuality. These themes illustrate efforts to connect the ‘unimaginable past’ with personal experiences, highlighting the challenges of communicating across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Ultimately, this article advocates for integrating visitor feedback into the broader conversation about Holocaust remembrance and its translation.

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