Abstract:
Uncovering Hidden Histories: Methods and Impact of Participatory Research on the “Lebensborn” Maternity Home Wienerwald, 1938–1945

Participatory research, which actively involves affected individuals or stakeholders in the research process, presents unique challenges when applied to the historical and emotional complexities of National Socialism. Yet, it has become increasingly significant in fields like memory culture and historical education, particularly when addressing both perpetrator and victim narratives. This approach examines the (in)stability of historical memory, grappling with tensions between past experiences and contemporary interpretations.

An example is the project “MEMORY LAB: Participatory Research on the Lebensborn Maternity Home Wienerwald, 1938–1945,” conducted by the LBI for Research on Consequences of War in Austria in 2023/24. The MEMORY LAB explored the history of the only SS-operated “Lebensborn” maternity home in what is now Austria, where women deemed racially suitable by the SS gave birth to so-called “racially valuable” children. In collaboration with “Lebensborn” children, their families, and local residents, the project was accompanied by a transdisciplinary Study Advisory Group and included an “impact manager” to assess its outcomes.

At the core of this 1.5-hour workshop, four videos (in German with English subtitles) will offer insights into the project’s design and execution while also prompting reflection on the concept of impact in participatory research in historical scholarship. While traditional impact factors gauge a project’s influence through citations, assessing the impact of participatory research is more nuanced. After a short introduction to the history of “Lebensborn,” participatory research as applied in the MEMORY LAB, and considerations on “impact,” workshop participants will watch the videos in small groups, followed by a discussion on the aspects covered. The number of participants is limited to 16; registration is required.

Workshop organizers:
Lukas Schretter, Head of the project “Memory Lab”
Nadjeschda Stoffers, Project team member, “Memory Lab”
Michaela Tasotti, Project team member, “Memory Lab”
Mathieu Mahve-Beydokhti, Impact Manager, LBG OIS Center

The workshop is being held at the invitation of the organizing team of the 9th Annual Conference of the Memory Studies Association, themed “Beyond Crises: Resilience and (In)stability.”