From Sea to Memory: The Sinking of the Tanaïs and Holocaust Remembrance

Thematic focus

Other Forms of History Education
Holocaust
Remembrance / Collective Memory

Language

English, Greek

Country

Greece

Address

Date

Deadline: 31 March 2026

Contact

research@etz-hayyim-hania.org

Description

This is an academic conference organized by the Evlagon Institute for Cretan Jewish Studies in Chania, Crete (Greece) from 11–13 July 2026. The event centers on the tragic sinking of the ship Tanaïs on 9 June 1944, during World War II, when hundreds of prisoners—notably the Jewish community of Crete, Christian Cretans, and Italian prisoners of war—were being deported by the Nazis to concentration camps. A British submarine torpedoed the vessel, causing it to sink rapidly and resulting in the death of nearly all aboard. This event marked the end of a 2,300-year Jewish presence on Crete and stands as one of the most devastating episodes of Cretan Holocaust history. The conference invites submissions that explore the historical, cultural, memorial, and interdisciplinary dimensions of the Tanaïs tragedy and broader Holocaust remembrance. Participants are encouraged to address themes such as: Historical research and historiography of the Tanaïs and Holocaust experiences in Crete and the Mediterranean; Memory and memorial practices, both local and transnational; Maritime perspectives on Holocaust transport and related events; Artistic and cultural responses (literature, visual arts, theatre, music, film); Holocaust education, pedagogy, and community engagement; Interdisciplinary approaches combining history, memory studies, art, and oral history.

Organiser

Evlagon Institute for Cretan Jewish Studies