Perpetrator History, Democratic Responsibility and Holocaust Education: A Conversation with Thomas Köhler and Peter Römer of the Villa ten Hompel, Germany

Abstract The interview with Thomas Köhler and Peter Römer was conducted by Dr Mispa Roux (Education and Research specialist at the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre). Thomas Köhler and Peter Römer are both researchers of the Villa ten Hompel Memorial and Museum in Münster, Germany. The Memorial represents a distinctive approach to Holocaust remembrance and historical education. It examines the administrative and institutional dimensions of perpetration, particularly the role of the German Ordnungspolizei (Order Police) during the Nazi era. Through exhibitions, research and educational programmes, the Villa ten Hompel explores questions of perpetrator history, institutional responsibility, democratic culture, and the continuing relevance of Holocaust history for contemporary society. In this conversation, Thomas and Peter reflect on the history of the site, the challenges of exhibiting perpetrator materials, the ethical dilemmas of representing violence, and the role of Holocaust education in shaping critical reflection among present-day law enforcement officials and civil servants.