Events
14th June 2024
Inaugural lecture Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dominik Markl SJ
„Historiography as a Medium of Survival: From the Hebrew Bible to Leokadia Justman“
8th March 2024
First Justman-Workshop
Kick-off event for all project members
8th March 2024 – First Justman-Workshop
The First Justman Workshop served to network and exchange ideas among the researchers involved in the project from contemporary history, comparative literature, Slavic studies, English, German, ethnology, digital humanities, trauma studies and theology - as part of the research center “Synagogue and Churches”. At the same time, the meeting was a sounding for the First Justman Conference, envisioned for 27–28 March 2025. Wilhelm Guggenberger, Dean of the Theological Faculty, emphasized the importance of cooperation with other faculties, with citizen scientists, in particular from the Tyrol State Police Directorate and the Security Academy Absam, as well as with the Jewish Community of Tyrol and Vorarlberg and all sponsors of the project. Jeffrey, Justin and Brandon Wisnicki – Leokadia Justman’s son and two grandsons – expressed their appreciation at the start of the project via video messages from the USA. The interdisciplinary discussion was rounded off with a snack organized by the project’s student employees.
Glimpses
18th January 2024 – Interview with contemporary witness Martin Thaler
Leokadia Justman mentions three-year-old Martin in her memoirs. Leokadia and Jakob were living as lodgers with Martin’s mother, Anna Lechner. When Jakob Justman was arrested in Anna Lechner’s flat on March 18th, 1944, her son Martin Thaler was present. He describes his memories in an interview conducted on January 18th, 2024. A team from the Office of Public Relations of the University of Innsbruck recorded the interview with the now 83-year-old man. The team also documented some of the original locations described in the story.