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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Tirana, Albania, 05/13/2008 - A special Holocaust Conference marking Albania’s extraordinary record in the Second World War as a haven for persecuted Jews is set to take place in the Albanian capital Tirana, on May 19-21.
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The conference, which is being organized by the University of Tirana's Department of History and Bar-Ilan University's Arnold and Leona Finkler Institute of Holocaust Research in Israel, will feature senior dignitaries from both Albania and Israel.
Before the Second World War, Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany made their way to and through Albania. Despite Nazi occupation of much of the Balkans during the Second World War, the Holocaust did not succeed in Albania, and indeed several hundreds of Jews found a safe haven there. Although recognized by Holocaust scholars, Albania's historical role in the Holocaust has not received widespread international publicity.
The conference is entitled "Albania, the Albanians and the Holocaust: An Extraordinary Mini-Case in Context" and will feature participants from the University of Tirana, Bar-Ilan University, Indiana University (USA), Tuscia University of Viterbo (Italy), the University of Stuttgart (Germany), Stanford University (USA), and the Hebrew University (Israel). Lecture topics include an overview of the Second World War in Albania, the historical background on Jews in Albania, the contribution of Jews to Albanian society, including medical advancements, the Italian influence in Albania during the Second World War, as well as records and rescue stories of Jews in Albania. In a special post-conference session, the documentary “Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust” by Daniel Anker will be screened.
Events will take place over three days, with an historical tour on the morning of May 19th, the opening session on the 20th, and further lectures on the 21st.
The conference is being co-sponsored by Colliers International in Southeast Europe, and its Regional Director, Philip Bay. Colliers is the leading real estate advisory firm in Southeast Europe.
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