The Wiener Holocaust Library, one of the most extensive archives documenting Nazi-era atrocities, has launched an ambitious digital portal, granting global access to over 250,000 pages of

evidence detailing the Holocaust and the efforts of those who resisted Nazi persecution.

This initiative, unveiled in conjunction with International Holocaust Memorial Day, represents the most significant Holocaust digitization project undertaken in the UK.

The newly launched online platform provides free access to an extensive collection of digitized materials, including photographs, official transcripts, testimonies, and historical records that have been meticulously preserved over the past three years. The database debuts with more than 150,000 pages covering 10,000 records—documenting both the genocide of Europe’s Jewish communities and the warnings issued by individuals and groups before and during the atrocities.

Unprecedented access to crucial historical collections

For the first time, several vital historical collections are now available online, including:

Tarnschriften (‘Hidden Writings’): These disguised anti-Fascist pamphlets, created to evade Nazi censorship, were camouflaged as mundane booklets—such as advertisements, recipe books, and household manuals—to secretly distribute resistance messages under the oppressive regime. The Library now houses the largest digitized collection of these pamphlets outside of Germany, comprising nearly 500 pieces.

British Fascist and Anti-Fascist Movements: The digitized collection includes records detailing key events such as the Battle of Cable Street, the rise of Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists, and the Jewish-led resistance against far-right extremism in the UK, both before and after World War II.

Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Documents: This collection, gifted to the Wiener Library by the Nuremberg trial authorities, contains authenticated copies and English translations of trial documents specifically concerning the fate of European Jews. These records remain among the Library’s most frequently consulted resources.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Liberation Photographs: In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army, the online portal now provides access to rare photographs from the event, offering a poignant visual record of the camp’s final days.

Preserving memory, combating misinformation

Dr. Toby Simpson, Director of the Wiener Holocaust Library, emphasized the vital role of preserving historical truth:

“The Wiener Holocaust Library’s archives were built with unparalleled urgency. For the Jewish refugees who assembled these collections, documentation was often a matter of life and death. Today, the need to safeguard the truth is as pressing as ever, especially in the face of rising antisemitism and historical misinformation.”

“By making this vast body of evidence freely accessible, Wiener Digital Collections serves as a cornerstone for Holocaust research and education. It ensures that the historical record is available to all, regardless of location, background, or financial means.”

Professor Dan Stone, Director of the Holocaust Research Institute at Royal Holloway, University of London, echoed this sentiment:

“The Wiener Holocaust Library’s digitization of institutional records, including correspondence and internal documents, provides researchers with an invaluable resource. Whether studying archival history, postwar trials, restitution efforts, or the Holocaust itself, the accessibility of these documents is a major advancement for historical scholarship.”

A legacy of Holocaust documentation

Founded by Jewish refugees, the Wiener Holocaust Library is the world’s oldest continuously operating Holocaust archive. It houses the UK’s largest collection of Nazi-era and Holocaust-related documents, including thousands of records donated by survivors and their families.

By making these materials digitally accessible, the Library ensures that the memory of the Holocaust—and the lessons it imparts—remain protected for future generations. Photo by Christian Michelides, Wikimedia commons.