Holocaust Memorial Day

Today is an important day because we focus on genocide. 27th January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Holocaust Memorial Day is a tough subject but bot one to swerve. We can never do that. We need to remember in the same way we never forget ‘the fallen’.

This is the time we come together and remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2019 is Torn from home and thisencourages us all to reflect on how the enforced loss of a safe place to call ‘home’ is part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing persecution and genocide.

‘Home’ usually means a place of safety, comfort and security. On HMD 2019 we will reflect on what happens when individuals, families and communities are driven out of, or wrenched from their homes, because of persecution or the threat of genocide, alongside the continuing difficulties survivors face as they try to find and build new homes when the genocide is over.

This is the time to learn the lessons of the past and recognise that genocide does not just ‘happen’ overnight but does appear steadily bit by bit when discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented.

It’s crucial that we share what happened. Listen to the first-hand testimony of Dr Martin Stern MBE, a survivor of the Holocaust. In the interview he says something that we must remind ourselves of and that is…

An amazing proportion of the population really do not know about the Holocaust.

Incredibly, there are people that deny that the Holocaust even happened which is just bizarre.

This is a fascinating interview and one for all pupils to see.

We must all committ to preserving the memory of those who have been murdered in the Holocaust.

One way of keeping the flame of memory alive is to visit the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Nottinghamshire. This is a powerful place to take children and learn more about the Holocaust and understand the roots of discrimination and prejudice.