CommunicationPublished on 25 March 2024

Photo gallery

Photo highlights from Switzerland's chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Switzerland's chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2017

The new chairman of the IHRA, FDFA Secretary General Benno Bättig, gives a speech at the Swiss embassy in Berlin on 7 March 2017. — The new chairman of the IHRA, FDFA Secretary General Benno Bättig, gives a speech at the Swiss embassy in Berlin on 7 March 2017. — © FDFA

The new chairman of the IHRA, FDFA Secretary General Benno Bättig, gives a speech at the Swiss embassy in Berlin on 7 March 2017. — The new chairman of the IHRA, FDFA Secretary General Benno Bättig, gives a speech at the Swiss embassy in Berlin on 7 March 2017. — © FDFA

Handover ceremony for the IHRA chairmanship, from left to right: Italian Ambassador Sandro De Bernadin (chairman in 2018), Switzerland’s Ambassador to Germany Christine Schraner Burgener, Benno Bättig (current chairman), and Romanian Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu (outgoing chairman). — Handover ceremony for the IHRA chairmanship, from left to right: Italian Ambassador Sandro De Bernadin (chairman in 2018), Switzerland’s Ambassador to Germany Christine Schraner Burgener, Benno Bättig (current chairman), and Romanian Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu (outgoing chairman). — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA (centre), speaking with Israel's ambassador to Switzerland, Jacob Keidar (right), and François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit. — Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA (centre), speaking with Israel's ambassador to Switzerland, Jacob Keidar (right), and François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit. — © FDFA

Israel's ambassador to Switzerland, Jacob Keidar, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Israel's ambassador to Switzerland, Jacob Keidar, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Vlad Vasiliu, ambassador of Romania to Switzerland and chairman of the IHRA until 7 March 2017, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Vlad Vasiliu, ambassador of Romania to Switzerland and chairman of the IHRA until 7 March 2017, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Musical interlude by violinist Piotr Plawner during the ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Musical interlude by violinist Piotr Plawner during the ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit, gives a speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Speech by Professor Ivan Lefkovits, Holocaust survivor, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Speech by Professor Ivan Lefkovits, Holocaust survivor, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Professor Ivan Lefkovits, Holocaust survivor, presents his work ‘Memoiren von Holocaust-Überlebenden’ (Memoirs of Holocaust survivors), published in German and soon to be published in French. — Professor Ivan Lefkovits, Holocaust survivor, presents his work ‘Memoiren von Holocaust-Überlebenden’ (Memoirs of Holocaust survivors), published in German and soon to be published in French. — © FDFA

David Polnauer, Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Bern, recites the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, at the close of the ceremony. — David Polnauer, Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Bern, recites the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, at the close of the ceremony. — © FDFA

Informal discussion at the end of the ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — Informal discussion at the end of the ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA (centre), speaks with Otto Lampe, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Switzerland. — Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA (centre), speaks with Otto Lampe, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Switzerland. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA, greets Christa Markovits, Holocaust survivor and author of one of the survivor memoirs. — Benno Bättig, FDFA secretary-general and chairman-designate of the IHRA, greets Christa Markovits, Holocaust survivor and author of one of the survivor memoirs. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), lays a wreath at the Death Wall in Auschwitz during the March of the Living on 24 April 2017. — Benno Bättig, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), lays a wreath at the Death Wall in Auschwitz during the March of the Living on 24 April 2017. — © FDFA/Andrej Motyl

Benno Bättig, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), lays a wreath at the Death Wall in Auschwitz during the March of the Living. — Benno Bättig, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), lays a wreath at the Death Wall in Auschwitz during the March of the Living on 24 April 2017. — © FDFA/Andrej Motyl

Participants in the March of the Living in Auschwitz — Participants in the March of the Living in Auschwitz on 24 April 2017. — © FDFA/Andrej Motyl

Participants in the March of the Living in Auschwitz. — Participants in the March of the Living in Auschwitz on 24 April 2017. — © FDFA/Andrej Motyl

First plenary meeting under Swiss chairmanship of the IHRA on 26th June in Geneva

Benno Bättig (right) with Holocaust survivor Ivan Lefkovits (2nd right) and students from two classes from Biel and Geneva, who translated memoirs of Holocaust survivors. Una classe scolastica di Bienne, che ha tradotto memorie di superstiti dell’Olocausto, viene applaudita dall’assemblea plenaria.Una classe scolastica di Bienne, che ha tradotto memorie di superstiti dell’Olocausto, viene applaudita dall’assemblea plenaria. © FDFA — Benno Bättig (right) with Holocaust survivor Ivan Lefkovits (2nd right) and students from two classes from Biel and Geneva, who translated memoirs of Holocaust survivors. Una classe scolastica di Bienne, che ha tradotto memorie di superstiti dell’Olocausto, viene applaudita dall’assemblea plenaria.Una classe scolastica di Bienne, che ha tradotto memorie di superstiti dell’Olocausto, viene applaudita dall’assemblea plenaria. © FDFA — © FDFA

Students from Biel viewing portraits of Holocaust survivors at the Gamaraal Foundation's exhibition 'The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors'. — Students from Biel viewing portraits of Holocaust survivors at the Gamaraal Foundation's exhibition 'The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors'. — © FDFA

Two school students looking at a poster in the exhibition. — Exhibition « The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors » in Geneva, which was subsequently supported and presented by several Swiss representations abroad. — © FDFA

Students from Biel viewing portraits of Holocaust survivors at the Gamaraal Foundation's exhibition 'The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors'. — Students from Biel viewing portraits of Holocaust survivors at the Gamaraal Foundation's exhibition 'The Last Swiss Holocaust Survivors'. — © FDFA

Students from Biel talking to Florence Widmer from the FDFA about their experiences translating the memoirs of Holocaust survivors. — Students from Biel talking to Florence Widmer from the FDFA about their experiences translating the memoirs of Holocaust survivors. — © FDFA

A working group of the IHRA, meeting during the plenary session. — A working group of the IHRA, meeting during the plenary session. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig, secretary general of the FDFA and current IHRA chair. — Benno Bättig, secretary general of the FDFA and current IHRA chair. — © FDFA

Ivan Levkovits (right), Holocaust survivor and editor of Memoirs of Holocaust Survivors, speaking at a meeting at the IHRA plenary session. Next to him, François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit. — Ivan Levkovits (right), Holocaust survivor and editor of Memoirs of Holocaust Survivors, speaking at a meeting at the IHRA plenary session. Next to him, François Wisard, head of the FDFA History Unit. — © FDFA

A school class from Biel, who translated the memoirs of Holocaust survivors, receive applause from the plenary. — A school class from Biel, who translated the memoirs of Holocaust survivors, receive applause from the plenary. — © FDFA

Two students and their teacher from Geneva talking about their experiences translating the memoirs of Holocaust survivor Christa Markovits. — Two students and their teacher from Geneva talking about their experiences translating the memoirs of Holocaust survivor Christa Markovits. — © FDFA

Christa Markovits, Holocaust survivor and one of the authors of Memoirs of Holocaust Survivors, talking to Daniel Gerson, member of the Swiss Delegation. — Christa Markovits, Holocaust survivor and one of the authors of Memoirs of Holocaust Survivors, talking to Daniel Gerson, member of the Swiss Delegation. — © FDFA

Kathrin Meyer, permanent secretary of the IHRA, at a meeting at the IHRA plenary session. In the background is Benno Bättig, the current IHRA chair. — Kathrin Meyer, permanent secretary of the IHRA, at a meeting at the IHRA plenary session. In the background is Benno Bättig, the current IHRA chair. — © FDFA

© FDFA

© FDFA

© FDFA

© FDFA

Second plenary meeting of the IHRA chaired by Switzerland in Bern 30.11.2017

Delegates at the second plenary meeting of the IHRA in a hall. — Delegates at the second plenary meeting of the IHRA in Bern. — © FDFA

Delegates at the second plenary meeting of the IHRA in a hall. — Delegates at the second plenary meeting of the IHRA in Bern. — © FDFA

At the IHRA plenary session in Berne, delegates discuss at a table. — At the IHRA plenary session in Berne, delegates discuss the priorities for the implementation of their strategy. — © FDFA

Benno Bättig and François Wisardduring the plenary assembly at a table. — Benno Bättig (center), the imitating chairman of the IHRA, and François Wisard, head of the Historcal Service FDFA and head of the Swiss IHRA delegation, during the plenary assembly in Bern. — © FDFA

Plenary Assembly of delegates from the IHRA member states at the Hotel National in Bern. — Plenary Assembly of delegates from the IHRA member states at the Hotel National in Bern. — © FDFA

IHRA Chairman Benno Bättig during a workshop at the plenary session. — IHRA Chairman Benno Bättig during a workshop at the plenary session. — © FDFA

Herbert Winter, President of the Federation of Swiss Israelite Communities, in his address. — Herbert Winter, President of the Federation of Swiss Israelite Communities, in his address. — © FDFA

IHRA Chairman Benno Bättig speaks to the participants of the Plenary Assembly. — IHRA Chairman Benno Bättig speaks to the participants of the Plenary Assembly. — © FDFA

Peter Gautschi, head of the Center for History Didactics and Memory Cultures at the Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern, presents the learning app «Fleeing from the Holocaust». — Peter Gautschi, head of the Center for History Didactics and Memory Cultures at the Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern, presents the learning app «Fleeing from the Holocaust». — © FDFA

Historian Charlotte Schallié at the presentation of the book «Under Swiss Protection», which traces Carl Lutz's life. — Historian Charlotte Schallié at the presentation of the book «Under Swiss Protection», which traces Carl Lutz's life. — © FDFA

Agnes Hirschi, stepdaughter of Carl Lutz, presents the book «Under Swiss Protection» about Carl Lutz. — Agnes Hirschi, stepdaughter of Carl Lutz, presents the book «Under Swiss Protection» about Carl Lutz. — © FDFA

Contact

FDFA Communication
General Secretariat GS-FDFA
Federal Palace West
3003 Bern