Rescue or Ruin: Orphan Life During the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust

This lecture presented by Andrea Wagh, PhD Student of Department of History, showcases her ongoing dissertation research, which is an examination on how orphanages were used to either rescue victims of genocide or perpetrate genocidal policies against them. Through a comparative study of the Armenian genocide (1915 - 1918) and the Holocaust (1933 - 1945), her research explores how orphanages were manipulated in each case. By understanding the role these institutions played, we can better understand how children are uniquely targeted in mass violence and how orphanages have served as spaces for both good and evil.