About the center

The Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities has two main fields of interest: the Holocaust on the one hand and religious minorities on the other. Within these two fields of interest the Center will contribute with new research, education and information activities, exhibitions and conferences. Moreover, it is the explicit aim to be a meeting-place for people who want to participate in the enduring controversy concerning all kinds of religious, racist and ethnic motivated repression.

At the end of January 2005 we moved to Villa Grande, Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling's residence during World War II.

The creation of the Center was a result of a year-long process concerning the liquidation of the Norwegian Jews' economical status during the Second World War. On this issue see The Reisel / Bruland Report on the Confiscation of Jewish property in Norway during World War II (June 1997)).

The Center is financed from part of the settlement worked out between the Norwegian State and the Jewish Communities. The decision was related to a strongly felt wish to establish a nation-wide center for competence in studies of Holocaust but also the situation of religious minorities in the Norwegian society. (More information in English on the background for this can be found on the web-pages of The Mosaic Religious Community in Oslo, see here).

The Center has two main fields of interest: the Holocaust on the one hand and religious minorities on the other:

1.
The Norwegian chapter in the history of Holocaust plays a key role in our activities. The Norwegian story will be placed in its wider European context. The history of - and current forms of anti-semitism are also important components of our profile. The Center will furthermore incorporate studies of genocide and violations of human rights.

2.
Norwegian minorities, especially religious and life stance minorities, have for a long time been disregarded in Norwegian research and in the public debate. We aim to focus on historical and current situation of these communities and their roles within a multi-cultural society.

The Norwegian abbreviation for our center is "HL senteret", where the "H" stands for the Holocaust and the "L" for livssynsminoriteter - the Norwegian word for religious- and life stance minorities. Together these two letters H and L highlight our unique combination.

The Center shall contribute with new research, education and information activities, exhibitions and conferences. Moreover, it is the explicit aim to be a meeting-place for people who want to participate in the enduring controversy concerning all kinds of religious, racist and ethnic motivated repression.

In the beginning of 2005 we moved to the historical building of Villa Grande. Villa Grande was during World War II the residence of the Norwegian collaborator and Nazi-leader, Vidkun Quisling. Villa Grande was then known as "Gimle".

With this symbolic act of reappropriation we will transform the image of this still monumental building. Once a house of shame it will now - as a matter of historical irony - be filled with activities in contrast to its former role.