Holocaust Comic for Students

The comic The Search follows Esther, a fictional Jewish Holocaust survivor, who tells her story to her grandchildren. Published by the Anne Frank Center in Berlin, Germany, the comic was developed as a teaching aid to be used by high schools throughout Germany.

This spring 14 schools throughout the country tested the comic. The students were between the ages of 13 and 15. The comic includes a workbook with discussion questions and helpful exercises that teachers can decide to use. The Center wants the comic to supply a foundation of knowledge about the Holocaust that students can then build upon.

Can Comics Appropriately Address the Holocaust?

Critics have expressed concern about whether a medium that is normally associated with fictional superhuman characters and exaggerated violence can be appropriate to address such a serious and sensitive historical event as the Holocaust. Others argue that a comic is not an appropriate teaching tool in general because children will not take it seriously.

Stephen J. Kramer, general secretary for the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said that such a medium oversimplified and distorted the history surrounding the Holocaust.

“The book at hand looked to me in some parts superficial and therefore vulgarizing the history and the interconnections of the different powers,” Kramer said.

Adventure Comic Style

Not only has the storyline of The Search been criticized but also its style. Illustrator Eric Heuvel used “clear-line” style, originally made famous by Belgium artist Herge’s Tin-tin comics, which first appeared in the 1930s.

Christine Gundermann, history professor at the Free University of Berlin and author of the book Jenseits von Asterix: Comics in History Lessons, described the style as typical.

“Children are used to this style,” Gundermann said. “To draw The Search in this style was the simplest way.” But Gundermann also warned that clear-line style is normally used only for adventure comics, an association which is problematic for The Search.

Kramer didn’t like the comic for this reason as well. “The general way the drawings are done emphasize that the Holocaust was a colorful and actually not so bad time,” he said.

Success in German schools

Jens Augner, eighth grade teacher at Humboldt high school in Berlin, taught with the comic.

“For us it was some kind of beginning to do more detailed work after that,” Augner said. “I think skeptical thoughts came more from people from outside who haven’t read the book. The parents were comfortable and read the book themselves. I think it convinced them.”

Augner often used the workbook that came with it. In one exercise Augner’s students picked a character in the comic and discussed the dilemmas each faced. This allowed students to see that decisions weren’t always so black and white, Augner said.

Overall, The Search was a success at Humboldt. Augner said the students were more interested than usual in the Holocaust. His fellow teachers, who decide whether to use the comic next year, were also positive.

“I think that more of my colleagues will use it,” Augner said. “A lot of them asked me about it and are quite eager to use it themselves.”

Currently, the Anne Frank Center is assessing whether the comic was successful overall. The report will be published in October and will impact whether the comic will continue to be used next year.

Children's books, ninjapoodles

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