Living History: Salem State Students, Staff Study Holocaust On European Trip

SALEM, MA — A group of Salem State University students and staff traveled to Italy and Southern France this summer as part of an educational trip to study the role each country played in the Holocaust and World War II.

The university's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies organized the trip for undergraduate students and graduate students from the center's Certificate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Sixteen students joined history professor and CHGS director Christopher Mauriello and Regina Kazyulina, CHGS research associate, in the 12-day trip that included visits to the Jewish and Holocaust sites in Italy, the Camp des Milles internment and deportation camp in France, and synagogues in both countries.

In Rome, the group’s stops included the Ardeatine Caves, Museum of the Historical Liberation of Rome, the Jewish Museum of Rome, and National Museum of Palazzo di Venezia. Other stops included the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial and Platform 16 Deportation Memorials. In Marseille, the Memorial des Camps de la Mort, Synagogue Breteuil and tour of the Jewish District were among the stops.

"I went on the trip this summer first and foremost because it was an incredible opportunity," said Visiliki Tzortzis, a student from Peabody who earned a master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) at Salem State.

Tzortzis is now a multilingual learner teacher at Bates Elementary School in Salem.

Salem State graduate Lindsay Kruzlic, of Gill, earned her master's in history after receiving a certificate in Holocaust and genocide studies this summer.

"This study abroad class was my 'last class' of my master's program," she said. "I was also very hyper-focused on how the Holocaust was portrayed in Italy and wanted to see it for myself."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)