February 12, 2016

Family history group to present program on World War II and DP-era records

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Female forced laborers wearing “OST” [Ostarbeiter] badges are liberated from a camp near Lodz, Poland.

The morning presentations will include information on the USHMM’s Oral History Collection, the research materials and services available at the USHMM and the International Tracing Service. The Oral History Collection has been making a major effort to interview Ukrainians and other non-Jews who suffered or witnessed persecution during World War II.

The museum defines a “Holocaust victim” very broadly as anybody who was “displaced, persecuted or discriminated against due to the racial, religious, ethnic, social, and political policies of the Nazis and their collaborators between 1933 and 1945.” This includes the millions of Ukrainian Ostarbeiters (forced laborers) who were compelled to work under brutal conditions in Germany during the war. A person need not have been an inmate of a Nazi death camp to qualify as a “Holocaust victim.” The presentation will explain how to participate in the Oral History Collection and the other documentation efforts of the USHMM.

The USHMM also holds extensive research materials, and presenters will explain how to search the museum’s collections and even get research help from museum staff. Among the most important resources at the USHMM for genealogists and family historians is their ability to directly access the holdings of the International Tracing Service.

The ITS was established in Bad Arolsen, Germany, after World War II to serve as a repository for the millions of pages of documents that were captured by the Allied armies, as well as DP and other post-war records. Ukrainian Americans who have made inquiries to the ITS have often been surprised and even shocked by the level of detail that these records can provide about their family history.

The USHMM is the only institution in North America that has the ability to directly search the ITS Central Name Index and provide copies of digitized documents.

In addition to giving presentations, the USHMM staff members will be bringing their computers to the March 19 event, and the entire afternoon will be devoted to one-on-one research sessions with conference attendees. Research slots are strictly limited, and will be assigned first come-first served based on how early a participant registers for the event.

During that time, Nashi Predky organizing committee member Justin Houser will give a talk on basic genealogy research methods and Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center archivist Michael Andrec will give an overview of the history of the World War II era.

In addition, there will be a dedicated time slot during which participants will be able to get help from experts on deciphering their mysterious, illegible, or troublesome family documents.

Attendees will have the ability to mingle, network and/or get help from experienced genealogists throughout the day.

The USHMM is supported by the U.S. federal government, and outreach efforts such as this are part of its mission. This allows the Nashi Predky group to offer this event for a special discounted fee of only $40 per person. This includes a light breakfast and lunch, all talks, a 30 minute one-on-one research session (if you register early), and networking opportunities. Readers may register at NashiPredky.org. For more information or to register by phone, call 732-356-0132.

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