Holocaust Memorial Day
27 January marks Holocaust Memorial Day. This is an annual nationwide commemoration to honour those killed and persecuted during the Nazi led Holocaust of World War II and later genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
The Holocaust remains a stain on human history - the government of Nazi Germany orchestrated the persecution and mass murder of 17 million people. Victims were targeted due to their ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation and disability.
6 million Jewish men, women and children were murdered in concentration camps and at sites across Nazi occupied Europe.
A further 11 million victims included Russians, Belarussians, Poles, Ukrainians, Romany gypsies, black and mixed race people; lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people; those with mental and physical disabilities or mental illness; Soviet POWs; Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses and members of the Baha'i faith; Social Democrats, Spanish Republicans, freemasons, communists, trade unionists, capitalists, anarchists, Resistance fighters and others who disagreed with the Nazi regime.
The first Holocaust Memorial Day was held in 2001. The event not only commemorates the victims of Holocaust and genocide worldwide - it also stresses the need to learn from the past, challenging prejudice and hatred to create a safer future based on empathy and respect for all.
We hope that the following resources will help to raise awareness of this important subject and show how you can help to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
Please note: Some of this material includes period photography and film of an upsetting nature that may not be suitable for younger children.
Words & Pictures
Click on the links below to view presentations, archive film, music, poetry and the words of Holocaust survivors.
Useful Websites:
To learn more about the Holocaust, click on the links below for information, advice and research tips.
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Holocaust Exhibition & Learning
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Key documents (National Archives) Voices of the Holocaust ( British Library )
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School and Children's Resources:
Share Your Memories:
If you or your families have been impacted by the Holocaust and have memories that you would like to share for posterity, please contact Merton Heritage Service - email: local.studies@merton.gov.uk
Related Material:
For more heritage resources, including material on World War II, visit our History Pages & Activities section.