Eighty years ago, on 28 November 1944, 20 Jewish children were transferred from the Auschwitz concentration camp to Neuengamme. Shortly before the end of the War, SS officers murdered the children and at least 28 adults in an abandoned school on Bullenhuser Damm. Today, the Bullenhuser Damm Memorial serves as a reminder of them and their stories.
“What does history have to do with me?” This question is central to every visit to the memorial. Now, answers to it are being explored in a new and innovative way: Remember: The Children of Bullenhuser Damm, a digital remembrance game. Developed by the Hamburg Foundation for Memorials and Learning Centres in collaboration with Paintbucket Games (creators of Through the Darkest of Times and Forced Abroad), the game was made with support from the Children of Bullenhuser Damm Association and funding from the Alfred Landecker Foundation.
The game places players in the role of pupils at the Bullenhuser Damm school in 1979. Together, they uncover traces leading back to the Nazi past, prompting reflection on history and remembrance. By interacting with other characters and engaging with different time periods, players create a personalised narrative of remembrance, shaped by their personal perspectives.
Who remembers what, and why? Why should historical events still matter to us today? Aimed at pupils aged 12/13 (German Year 7) and above, the game helps players draw connections between engaging with the past and their own experience of the present.
Following the launch, the game will be available for free on Android and iOS. Accompanying teaching materials will be provided for use in classrooms.
The launch event will feature a presentation of the game and opportunities for participants to try out the game themselves, and to ask questions to those involved in the project.
Prof. Dr Oliver von Wrochem, Chairman of the Hamburg Foundation for Memorials and Learning Centres:
“With this game, we aimed to create a unique contribution to cultural remembrance through its imagery, storytelling, and, above all, the interactivity of the medium. Our goal was to surprise and engage young people more directly than traditional educational formats. A digital game is an important step in conveying knowledge about the Nazi era and society’s ongoing engagement with it in a way that is relevant to the present day.”
Lena Altman, Co-CEO of the Alfred Landecker Foundation:
“The digital space is indispensable for Holocaust remembrance, especially at a time when digital platforms considerably heighten the risk of historical revisionism and Holocaust denial. Digital Remembrance Games are a format to counteract these trends. It allows young users in particular to engage interactively and deeply with cultural remembrance, ensuring that the Holocaust remains in the public consciousness of future generations in an authentic and sustainable way.”
Jörg Friedrich, CEO of Paintbucket Games:
“We don’t just learn about history in school—often, knowledge comes from novels, TV series, or films. Today, many people spend more time playing digital games than reading books or watching movies. In games, you make your own decisions, experiencing both mistakes and successes. This active decision-making allows past events and contexts to be experienced in a different way, which is why we see digital games as an important complement to other forms of cultural remembrance.”
Daniel Zylberberg, advisory board member and chairman of the Children of Bullenhuser Damm Association:
“As a relative of one of the murdered Jewish children of Bullenhuser Damm, I believe it is vital that remembering does not remain stuck to the past but establishes a connection to the present. This game manages to portray intercultural perspectives, and many of the questions it raises reflect ongoing societal discussions about antisemitism and racism.”