Holocaust Memorial Day

Saturday 27th January 2024 is Holocaust Memorial Day.

27th January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Every year, we promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day – the international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

All KS3 pupils had a specially designed lesson this week to reflect on the lessons we can learn from these horrific events. One of the most common methods of commemorating the Holocaust is to light a candle in remembrance of those lost. In the UK, a tradition has grown of lighting a candle in remembrance of a Jewish victim that was not related to you. Although we could not light a candle at School for Health and Safety Reasons, we asked all KS3 Historians to help us create a series of candles to display in the Alterman Building to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2024. 

On HMD 2024, we can all reflect on how freedom is fragile and vulnerable to abuse. As we come together in communities around the UK, let’s pledge not to take our freedoms for granted, and consider what we can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.

Mr Gerschler