2023 Kristallnacht Lecture: Australia's Response to the Holocaust

This lecture featuring Suzanne Hampel OAM took place on November 14, 2023, at Keene State College. Description: How did Australia respond to the events that were taking place in Nazi Germany and Europe during and after the Second World War? Australia has a long history of accepting migrants to its shores from all parts of the world.However, there has also been a deep-seated suspicion of, and animosity towards, "foreigners" as exemplified by the White Australia Policy. In this lecture, Sue Hampel examines the complex relationship that exists when it comes to Jewish migration, focusing on the Australian response to the rise of Nazism, the Evian conference and Kristallnacht, as well as other key developments. In the post war period, discriminatory policies against Jewish migration continued, even after knowledge of the mass murders of Europe's Jews. Despite these exclusionary policies Australia did eventually receive the most Holocaust survivors on a pro rata population basis. These individuals had a lasting impact on shaping both the Jewish and broader Australian communities. About the speaker: Suzanne Hampel OAM is a well-known public speaker and lecturer. She holds a Masters degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies (2010) and is the co-President of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Australia. Hampel has been recognized for her teaching and community service by receiving numerous awards including a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community through the promotion of understanding and tolerance. As the daughter of a survivor, Hampel places importance on remembering the past to create a more tolerant future. Sue is a member of the Australian delegation to the IHRA and served as the International Chair of the Education Working Group in 2021. She also is a member of the National Archives of Australia advisory council.