For Meta headset
Instructions for Quest 3 set up:
https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/getting-started/getting-started-with-quest-3/set-up-quest-3/
Instructions for how to navigate to the browser:
https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/in-vr-experiences/oculus-apps/using-oculus-browser/.
General usage tips for Inside Kristallnacht
Some scenes feature 360-degree environments. If using a mouse, click and drag to view all areas. With a headset, simply turn your head in whichever direction you would like.
Scene progression only occurs after Charlotte finishes speaking. When she is done, a yellow circle with an arrow inside will appear somewhere on the floor. If the yellow circle is out of your field of vision, a smaller arrow icon will appear. Rotate the screen until you find the yellow circle, then click to progress.
Yellow hotspots are located in many places throughout the experience to provide users with additional context. The hotspot icon is a yellow circle with moving text instructing you to “click to interact.” To exit a hotspot on a computer, click “CLOSE” at the top right of your screen or hit ESC on your keyboard.
While in a hotspot with multiple slides, either click the arrow buttons to transition to the next slide or use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: OCTOBER 30, 2024 — Today, just ahead of the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) announced the launch of “Inside Kristallnacht,” an unprecedented, mixed-reality project bringing you inside the Night of Broken Glass, when words of hate led to actions of hate. Viewers will undergo Holocaust survivor and activist, Dr. Charlotte Knobloch’s harrowing experience of survival from Kristallnacht through the end of the Holocaust. This experience, illustrating the dangers of unchecked hate, launches at a time when antisemitism is at an all-time high.
Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference said, “This level of technology isn’t just giving a powerful experience – it provides learning opportunities that can reach an audience in a very personal way. Allowing individuals to feel as though they are on the street in the aftermath of Kristallnacht enables them not just to learn about what happened at the onset of World War II but to understand it in a very immersive way. This is the kind of education we need to reach future generations who will be far removed from the experience of hearing the first-hand testimonies of survivors.”
Dr. Charlotte Knobloch, the Holocaust survivor on which “Inside Kristallnacht” is based, was born in 1932 in Munich, Germany. She eloquently recounts the night of November 9, 1938, when as a six-year-old she walked through the terrifyingly volatile streets with her father. It was the historic moment when a growing hatred peaked, catalyzing into acts of violence and rage, when citizens turned on their longtime neighbors, roaming the streets in mobs, breaking the glass of Jewish homes and shops. The Claims Conference commissioned the USC Shoah Foundation and immersive technology company makemepulse to create a sensitive and evocative mixed-reality experience animating Knobloch’s memories in a powerful, minimalist way, delivering to users a deeper, more emotional understanding of Knobloch’s survival, of Kristallnacht and of the years that followed.
The Claims Conference has created a free printable curriculum companion for teachers. Please view the instructions below and download the file.
Instructions for Quest 3 set up:
https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/getting-started/getting-started-with-quest-3/set-up-quest-3/
Instructions for how to navigate to the browser:
https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/in-vr-experiences/oculus-apps/using-oculus-browser/.
General usage tips for Inside Kristallnacht
Some scenes feature 360-degree environments. If using a mouse, click and drag to view all areas. With a headset, simply turn your head in whichever direction you would like.
Scene progression only occurs after Charlotte finishes speaking. When she is done, a yellow circle with an arrow inside will appear somewhere on the floor. If the yellow circle is out of your field of vision, a smaller arrow icon will appear. Rotate the screen until you find the yellow circle, then click to progress.
Yellow hotspots are located in many places throughout the experience to provide users with additional context. The hotspot icon is a yellow circle with moving text instructing you to “click to interact.” To exit a hotspot on a computer, click “CLOSE” at the top right of your screen or hit ESC on your keyboard.
While in a hotspot with multiple slides, either click the arrow buttons to transition to the next slide or use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
1) First go to www.InsideKristallnacht.org on your browser whether online or using your Quest headset.
2) After the loading screen, when you get to the main screen titled, “Inside Kristallnacht, click the yellow icon/”Start the Story” to begin your experience.
3) Some scenes feature 360-degree environments. If using a mouse, click and drag to view all areas. With a headset, simply turn your head in whichever direction you would like.
4) Scene progression only occurs after Charlotte finishes speaking. When she is done, a yellow circle with an arrow inside will appear somewhere on the floor. If the yellow circle is out of your field of vision, a smaller arrow icon will appear. Rotate the screen until you find the yellow circle, then click to progress.
5) Yellow hotspots are located in many places throughout the experience to provide users with additional context. The hotspot icon is a yellow circle with moving text instructing you to “click to interact.” To exit a hotspot on a computer, click “CLOSE” at the top right of your screen or hit ESC on your keyboard.
6) While in a hotspot with multiple slides, either click the arrow buttons to transition to the next slide or use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
English:
How did you and your family practice your faith before the war?
What was it like for you as a child to live under a false identity?
Can you tell me about Zenzi Hummel and her family?
What was your false name during the Holocaust?
How did you get used to your false name?
Can you describe your usual day in hiding?
How did you practice your Jewish faith when you were in hiding?
Why did you survive?
Who in your family survived?
What happened to your grandmother?
How were you reunited with your father after the war?
How were you liberated?
How did you feel leaving Zenzi and her family?
How did you rebuild your live after the Holocaust?
Tell me about building the Ohel Jakob synagogue.
Have you been able to forgive?
What does it mean to be Jewish for you?
What have been some of the highlights of your life?
What is the importance of the Holocaust commemoration?
Additional Questions:
Did you have any pets as a child?
What did you like to do growing up?
Do you remember seeing or listening to the Nazi propaganda?
How did you feel when you left your home in Munich?
Were you able to say goodbye to your father?
Can you describe your grandparents’ home?
How did you get news about the war progressing?
Did you continue your education after the war?
How and when did you meet your husband?
Do you talk about your experience with your children and grandchildren?
What did your parents or other adults tell you about what was happening to Jews after Hitler came to power?
How did your father avoid being arrested during Kristallnacht?
What was it like to come back home after the war?
How would you describe your relationship with Zenzi Hummel after the war?
How are you involved in the current political life in Germany and Europe?
Did you ever see Hitler?
Do you have any pets now?
German:
Wie haben Sie und Ihre Eltern die jüdische Religion vor dem Holocaust ausgeübt?
Wie war es für dich als Kind, dich zu verstecken und unter falscher Identität zu leben?
Können Sie mir ein bisschen was über Zenzi Hummel und die Familie dort erzählen?
Was war dein falscher Name während des Holocausts?
Wie hast du dich an deinen falschen Namen gewöhnt?
Wie war Ihr Alltag in Arberg?
Wie haben Sie Ihren Glauben während des Holocausts praktiziert?
Warum haben Sie überlebt?
Wer in Ihrer Familie hat überlebt?
Was ist mit deiner Großmutter passiert?
Wie wurden Sie nach dem Krieg mit Ihrem Vater wiedervereint?
Wie wurden Sie befreit?
Wie haben Sie sich gefühlt, als Sie Zenzi und ihre Familie verlassen haben?
Wie haben Sie Ihr Leben nach dem Holocaust wieder aufgebaut?
Erzählen Sie mir vom Bau der Ohel Jakob Synagoge .
Ist es Ihnen möglich, zu vergeben?
Was bedeutet es für Sie, jüdisch zu sein?
Was waren einige der Höhepunkte in Ihrem Leben?
Was ist das Wichtige an dem Erinnern an den Holocaust?
Additional Questions:
Hatten Sie in Ihrer Kindheit auch irgendwelche Haustiere?
Was war Ihre Lieblingsbeschäftigung als Kind?
Erinneren Sie sich daran, Nazi-Propaganda gesehen oder gehört zu haben?
Wie haben Sie sich gefühlt, als Sie Ihr Zuhause in München verlassen haben?
Konntest du dich von deinem Vater verabschieden?
Beschreiben Sie das Haus Ihrer Großeltern.
Wie haben sie Informationen über den Fortschritt des Krieges bekommen?
Haben sie nach dem Krieg Ihre Ausbildung fortgesetzt?
Wie und wann haben sie Ihren Ehemann kennengelernt?
Sprechen Sie über Ihre Erfahrungen mit Ihren Kindern und Enkelkindern?
Was haben Ihre Eltern oder andere Erwachsene Ihnen darüber erzählt, was mit den Juden geschah, nachdem Hitler an die Macht kam?
Wie konnte Ihr Vater vermeiden in der Kristallnacht verhaftet zu werden?
Wie war es nach dem Krieg wieder nach Hause zurückzukehren?
Haben Sie nach dem Krieg den Kontakt zu Zenzi Hummel und ihrer Familie aufrecht erhalten?
Wie involviert sind Sie in das aktuelle politische Leben in Deutschland und Europa?
Haben Sie jemals Hitler gesehen?
Haben Sie ein Haustier?
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Dr. Charlotte Knobloch, Holocaust survivor and featured storyteller, said, “Being part of this high-tech experience gives me great pride. There are fewer survivors every year who can share their memories of the Holocaust and knowing that the lessons they have to share will last beyond any of us gives me hope for the future and makes me feel that those lessons will not be lost.”
This immersive project depicts the November Pogroms featuring Dr. Knobloch in dual roles: as the narrator of her own devastating story and as the subject of an interactive interview in which users are able to relive Charlotte’s harrowing story while also asking questions that she will respond to in real-time. Charlotte Knobloch’s memories detail the moments before, during and after this pivotal event in history when words of hate became acts of violence, and more than 30,000 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps marking the onset of the Holocaust.
Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, said, “Preserving Shoah history through emerging technology allows us to provide an experience that educates future generations about the Holocaust and gives users a clear understanding of the impact of unchecked hatred. Using Charlotte’s experience as a background makes the history more relatable and humanizes the devastating toll these key historical moments took on the Jewish population.”
This virtual reality project integrates real-life footage, photographs, music, and other audio of Kristallnacht, as well as meticulously researched historical context, into the hand-drawn world of Dr. Knobloch’s story with stunning artwork created by immersive technology company, makemepulse. When users have questions about the experience they are having, they can engage in an interactive Q&A with Dr. Knobloch that uses natural language processing technology in which her prerecorded answers are matched with the questions. These answers cover diverse topics about Charlotte Knobloch’s experience during Kristallnacht, her family and the Holocaust in general. The mixed-reality project will be displayed in museums and film festivals.
Dr. Robert J. Williams, Finci-Viterbi Executive Director of USC Shoah Foundation, UNESCO Chair on Genocide Education, Advisor to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, said, “The USC Shoah Foundation is proud to partner with the Claims Conference on this immersive experience. This technology transports viewers into one of the most pivotal moments in modern history, the nights of violence and terror during the Holocaust. Initiatives like this can spark interest while fostering a deep connection with the history and relevance of the Holocaust. By embracing technology in ways that are responsible and engaging, we have the potential to enhance our collective memory and ensure that we honor the survivors, the victims and the immeasurable loss suffered during some of the twentieth century’s most tragic years of antisemitic violence.”
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, stated, “Charlotte Knobloch’s story reminds us of the imperative to preserve the memory of the Holocaust, at a time when only but a few survivors can testify to their experience. We must also explore the possibilities offered by new technologies to help amplify the voices of survivors, preserve their testimonies and thereby combat Holocaust denial and distortion. It is also by confronting the past that we can prevent antisemitism and future violence. UNESCO is proud to support this innovative initiative as part of its international education programme on the Holocaust and genocide.”
Nicolas Rajabaly, Co-Founder, Chief Creative Officer, makemepulse, said, “’Inside Kristallnacht,’ is a groundbreaking project that harnesses the power of XR to bring history to life. This isn’t just about recounting the past—it’s about forging deep, emotional connections with stories of survival and resilience. In a time when empathy and understanding are more critical than ever, this project stands as a powerful reminder of the human spirit’s endurance. Our team is deeply committed to exploring how cutting-edge technology can be a vehicle for storytelling to create experiences that not only preserve history but inspire future generations to learn from it.”
Jordana Cutler, Public Policy Director, Israel & the Jewish Diaspora at Meta, said, “Meta is proud to partner with the Claims Conference on this incredible and unique experience with Charlotte Knobloch. Studies have found that VR can positively improve learning outcomes and this project is a crucial step in transforming Holocaust education. As Metaverse technologies have the potential to change traditional educational models, Claims Conference has again bravely stepped into new territory by bringing Charlotte’s voice and the voices of other survivors, into a platform that will engage and educate future generations.”
Studies have found that VR can positively improve learning outcomes and this project is a crucial step in transforming Holocaust education. As Metaverse technologies have the potential to change traditional educational models, Claims Conference has again bravely stepped into new territory by bringing Charlotte’s voice and the voices of other survivors, into a platform that will engage and educate future generations.”
Inside Kristallnacht Commissioned by and with Assistance from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance and the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future.
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Charlotte Knobloch (née Neuland) was born on October 29, 1932, in Munich, Germany, to affluent Jewish lawyers. Raised by her grandmother following her parents’ divorce, Knobloch knew antisemitism from a very young age. She spent the night of Kristallnacht on the streets of Munich with her father in fear that the Nazis would target their home given her father’s prominence. She remembers the noise, the shouting, the smoke billowing from the windows of her local synagogue, and remembers seeing Nazi Storm Troopers dragging a neighbor from his home, blood slick on his face.
After a handful of years of anguish, anxiety, and fear, an edict was passed demanding that children and the elderly be sent to Theresienstadt. For their family, that meant either nine-year-old Charlotte or her beloved grandmother. Her grandmother told Charlotte that she was going to a health spa for treatment, but the unspeakable truth was apparent: she had taken Charlotte’s place. If it weren’t for her grandmother’s heroism, Charlotte Knobloch would not be with us today.
Shortly thereafter, little Charlotte was confronted with the most difficult moment of her life: saying goodbye to her father, perhaps for the last time. Her father sent her to live on a rural German farm run by a selfless Catholic maid formerly employed by her uncle to hide for the duration of the war as a Christian.
Years of despair and crushing uncertainty followed until one miraculous day at the end of May 1945, her father appeared. She could immediately see the toll that the war had extracted from him: he was battered and weak, but he was alive. Reunited, they returned to Munich where Charlotte learned that so much of her family had perished.
Contrary to what she envisioned for herself, Knobloch remained in Germany, eventually becoming a leader in the Jewish community of Munich and Upper Bavaria and dedicating her life to combating antisemitism. She served as the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Vice President of the European Jewish Congress, and is the World Jewish Congress Commissioner for Holocaust Memory.
USC Shoah Foundation
Yad Vashem
British Pathé
Munich City Archives
LBI Photograph Collection
Bavarian State Library
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
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About the Claims Conference
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel and Germany, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individuals and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust. As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than
$90 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis.
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All content ⒸConference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference)
