By Roisin O’Dwyer
What is the Holocaust?
The Holocaust, known in Hebrew as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews and other groups, including people with disabilities, political opponents (communists and trade unionists), the gay community and more during World War II. The main target was the Jewish community, and between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered approximately six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population. This was done through the use of concentration camps and extermination camps.
How is the Holocaust marked today?
In today’s society, we remember the atrocities of the Holocaust, particularly on 27th of January, the day Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army. This marks Holocaust memorial day and allows people from all over the world to come together and remember the innocent victims who lost their lives. The year of 2025 is especially significant because it marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. The anniversary this year brings particular attention to the historical importance of remembering and educating about these events, especially as survivors of the Holocaust are fewer and older. This is a time to reflect and honor the memory of the millions who suffered and perished during that period.
What can you do in London to honor the Holocaust?
To mark the Holocaust memorial period this year in London, you can visit the Holocaust Galleries at the Imperial War Museum, which tell the stories of Jewish people who were brutally murdered, as well as those of survivors. It holds personal objects, books, photographs and more to piece together stories and keep the memories of victims alive. You can also visit the Holocaust memorial in Hyde Park, a quiet place for contemplation and reflection.
Taking part in a community isn’t the only thing to keep the memories of the Holocaust victims alive, you can also take time for yourself by reading books or memoirs based on true stories, including “A Diary of Anne Frank” and “But You did not Come Back,” as well as watching films. These, including: “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “The Pianist” and are important for people to visualise the experiences of victims, and come to terms with how horrific the Holocaust was.
What do we do at St Augustines to honour the Holocaust?
Here at St Augustine’s, we make sure to honour all of those who suffered, particularly in concentration camps at the hands of the Nazis. From prayer, to a Holocaust assembly, educating students on its significance in society today, we will forever remember the atrocities and keep the victims alive in our hearts.
Some of the senior school also had a special talk from people at the Jewish Museum of London, who provided important details of the Holocaust and the story of an inspirational survivor, Leon Greenman — an Englishman who lived in Rotterdam with his wife, Else, and two year -old son Barney. They were taken from their home in October 1942 and imprisoned in Westerbork camp in Holland. While Leon would go on to survive Birkenau, Auschwitz III-Monowitz, a death march, and Buchenwald concentration camp, Else and Barney were not so fortunate. Leon moved back to London and eventually began speaking out about his experiences of the Holocaust, right up to his death at the age of 97 in 2008.
Leon, along with all Holocaust survivors, are inspirations to us all, inspirations of perseverance, hardship, and the truth about the past. Let us not forget the Holocaust victims and hold them forever in our hearts, continuing to speak out and educate young people on its significance, in order to prevent history from ever repeating itself.