Contested Memories: The Role of Victim Rivalry in Shaping Heritage and Memory at the Concentration Camps of Dachau and Ulm – Oberer Kuhberg

Abstract

This dissertation examines the memory culture discourse emerging from interactions with Difficult Heritage sites associated with genocide and trauma, specifically through the lens of 'victim rivalry.' Victim rivalry is defined as the phenomenon where groups or individuals engage in counter-victim narratives to overshadow or delegitimize the victim narratives of others, particularly when they themselves are portrayed negatively. The primary objective is to elucidate how this victim rivalry influences Difficult Heritage sites shaping both physical and socio-cultural spaces, affecting community interactions and memory culture in their local environments. The research question is addressed through a comparative case study approach, examining the former German concentration camps of Dachau and Ulm-Oberer Kuhberg, both Southern Germany, selected on the basis of their representativeness of the memory culture discourse around victim rivalry. The thesis applies a methodology composed of critical discourse analysis, literature review, as well as on-site observations to study the memory cultural dynamics and their effects on the basis of these two Difficult Heritage sites. The study analyses the changes that the two camps have undergone from 1945 to the present. Ultimately, this thesis advances the concept of victim rivalry as a crucial analytical tool for understanding and managing the contentious dynamics around Difficult Heritage sites. It contributes to the academic discourse on memory and trauma while providing valuable insights for policymakers and heritage site managers. This enhances understanding of how heritage sites are integrated into their environments and shape cultural spaces of remembrance.