In what ways has the Holocaust been used to push for the satisfaction of various needs and objectives in Europe? The authors take this question as their point of departure in order to reflect upon the role of history in general and the effects of the Holocaust in particular. The study how, when and why the collective memory of the Holocaust has been expressed and activated for cultural, economic, political and social reasons. Memories of the Nazi genocide in the German-Polish borderlands, the Holocaust in Russian history school books and the debates on the American television series Holocaust are among the topics covered by the articles in this anthology.