Holocaust Memorial Day

ViceVersa

The Holocaust Education Trust does a lot of work with schools, including talks with some of the dwindling concentration camp survivors, and even takes school parties on visits to Auschwitz, but obviously they can't be everywhere. I accompanied one school group on one of their trips and it was an extremely moving experience, which took in more than just Auschwitz/Birkenau.

Yes, I mentioned this in my post yesterday at 11.39.
A visit to their website is worthwhile.

For any GNs interested, the new Alice Hoffman book is a good read for children around 10 years too. It describes the ominous build-up, and what was happening to Jews, before Anne went into hiding.
The other book was from the Amsterdam museum, DGD has a pile of others at home.

TBH I think it would be helpful for many adults to read up on how the Germans manipulated their population by scapegoating the Jews and de-humanising them so that they were able to commit these terrible crimes against humanity. Perfectly ordinary people were prepared to see Jews wearing yellow stars, get thrown out of work, starved in ghettos and taken off to goodness knows where by the train load! Could it happen today?

I fear it could happen today , with social media, not in the
30’s 40’s

Yes indeed, Anniebach. The very nature of social media now makes it much easier and faster - to whip up hatred against any number of groups.

ViceVersa I truly fear it will happen, social media is terrifying

foxie48

TBH I think it would be helpful for many adults to read up on how the Germans manipulated their population by scapegoating the Jews and de-humanising them so that they were able to commit these terrible crimes against humanity. Perfectly ordinary people were prepared to see Jews wearing yellow stars, get thrown out of work, starved in ghettos and taken off to goodness knows where by the train load! Could it happen today?

Those who disagreed and were not happy about this happening were too frightened to speak up like our friend's family.

Just to add, they were not cowards but an ordinary family with very young children and were worried for their children.

foxie48

TBH I think it would be helpful for many adults to read up on how the Germans manipulated their population by scapegoating the Jews and de-humanising them so that they were able to commit these terrible crimes against humanity. Perfectly ordinary people were prepared to see Jews wearing yellow stars, get thrown out of work, starved in ghettos and taken off to goodness knows where by the train load! Could it happen today?

That's why I posted the quote from the Auschwitz Memorial. It didn't start with the gas chambers.

To be honest, it wasn't just the Germans in the 1930s. People should read up about the thinking in late 19th century/early 20th century Europe generally. Eugenics was seen as a positive benefit and the Dreyfus affair showed attitudes towards Jews. people were looking for scapegoats.

Even Pastor Niemoller originally supported Nazism because he saw the Nazis as a breath of fresh air after the perceived failure of the other political parties in Germany.

Yes, I think it could happen today.

Allira

foxie48

TBH I think it would be helpful for many adults to read up on how the Germans manipulated their population by scapegoating the Jews and de-humanising them so that they were able to commit these terrible crimes against humanity. Perfectly ordinary people were prepared to see Jews wearing yellow stars, get thrown out of work, starved in ghettos and taken off to goodness knows where by the train load! Could it happen today?

Those who disagreed and were not happy about this happening were too frightened to speak up like our friend's family.

The time to speak up was before 1933 when the writing was on the wall (sometimes literally).

growstuff

Allira

foxie48

TBH I think it would be helpful for many adults to read up on how the Germans manipulated their population by scapegoating the Jews and de-humanising them so that they were able to commit these terrible crimes against humanity. Perfectly ordinary people were prepared to see Jews wearing yellow stars, get thrown out of work, starved in ghettos and taken off to goodness knows where by the train load! Could it happen today?

Those who disagreed and were not happy about this happening were too frightened to speak up like our friend's family.

The time to speak up was before 1933 when the writing was on the wall (sometimes literally).

Well, I expect they were teenagers then.
I only know the experiences of that family, not the psyche of all German people.

The time to speak up was before 1933 when the writing was on the wall (sometimes literally).

The terror started before the 1933 elections.

I certainly don't think the German people were cowards nor do I think they were any different to the British, French, Italian or indeed any other nation. Sadly I think every population has a percentage of people who, when life is difficult for them, will be more willing to follow a leader who gives them answers and a common enemy. I think it's happening in lots of countries including the UK. The US is a perfect example of how one man can start a Nationalistic movement and become POTUS.
I had an evening of nostalgia listening to music from my younger days and Neil Diamond's America popped up, I don't think he'd write those words in 2025.

"Far
We've been traveling far
Without a home
But not without a star

Free
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream

On the boats and on the planes
They're coming to America
Never looking back again
They're coming to America

Home, don't it seem so far away
Oh, we're traveling light today
In the eye of the storm
In the eye of the storm

Home, to a new and a shiny place
Make our bed, and we'll say our grace
Freedom's light burning warm
Freedom's light burning warm

Everywhere around the world
They're coming to America
Every time that flag's unfurled
They're coming to America"

I had a good German friend from Stuttgart. She said that in the town itself, people heard stories about what was happening. But once out in the countryside, they were unaware and they all made fun of the man mit dem schwarzen Schnurrbart (the dark moustache).

I have read a lot and have a lot of books about the Holocaust and watched a lot of documentaries.
I know I could not go to Auschwitz or any other camp I just could not do it…😞

My grandson went on a school trip to krakow last week and they did all the different areas. The Jewish museum, Schindlers house and auschwitz. A couple of years ago my eldest grandson couldn’t do the trip due to Covid. So his parents took him as they thought it was important to see. Obviously not all
Children can afford these trips though.
My husband and I went a few years ago, I can remember how eerie it felt and you felt that you had to talk very quietly. I cried at the rooms full of toys and hair and little children’s shoes. Awful.

I had planned to visit Auschwitz last Summer with my daughter but our plans had to change so I still haven't been there. I have visited a holocaust memorial in Israel and the Holocaust museum and memorial in Berlin and both were very moving. It is essential that we never forget the horrors and learn from history, otherwise holocaust deniers will have won!

Having visited Auschwitz and other slave labour camps, and having wept on seeing framed sets of baby clothes, rooms full of shoes, artificial limbs, hair, suitcases etc, I feel every school should arrange a visit for teenagers. Reading about the atrocities perpetrated on their own kind, is not as forceful as seeing with their own eyes. Unfortunately, as described during the Ceremony last night - 'never again' has happened again in so many parts of the World!

Israel has driven a Nation from their homes, maimed children, most of them now amputees, because they regard Israel is just for them, so they have learnt nothing, what future have they?. There there is nothing for the released prisoners to return to. Its mans inhumanity to man. Not all the people think that but they go along with it, so no I don't watch anything about the Holocaust I have seen it all countless times, I am more interested in helping people going through Trauma now.

My DH wanted to visit Auschwitz a few years ago, but I said I couldn’t go with him as I don’t think I’d ever be able to unsee the horrors that I know happened. He ended up going with a pal, he was glad he went, but found it very harrowing. We watched some of the ceremonies last night and found it very moving. We also lit a candle.

It made me curious or know if German children are taught about the holocaust so I googled it. Yes, apparently they are, but I’m not sure to what extent. Man’s inhumanity appals me still today.

I have never visited Auschwitz, but have visited Oradour -sur - Glane, France's ghost town which was machine gunned and burned by Nazi troops on June 10th 1944, four days after D.Day. The reason for the mass killings is still unclear, but after the war General de Gaulle determined that the village should remain exactly as the Germans left it, and so it eerily is, bullet holes, and burnt walls in the church where women and children were herded and mown down or burnt to death trying to escape. The men were tortured and executed, the village set on fire.
There is a museum too, with childrens' shoes, toys, prams, kitchen cutlery and so on, a Citroen car is parked where it's owner left it. You can feel that something appalling has happened here.

Allsorts

Israel has driven a Nation from their homes, maimed children, most of them now amputees, because they regard Israel is just for them, so they have learnt nothing, what future have they?. There there is nothing for the released prisoners to return to. Its mans inhumanity to man. Not all the people think that but they go along with it, so no I don't watch anything about the Holocaust I have seen it all countless times, I am more interested in helping people going through Trauma now.

Surely we must all be interested in helping people going through trauma now. That includes the Jewish people in Israel and internationally, who were traumatised by the murderous attacks on 7 October. Many Jewish people have direct links to the Holocaust. One of my friends had all family members who stayed in Krakow murdered in Auschwitz. His cousin was murdered in her kibbutz by Hamas in the October attacks. The Holocaust continues to cast its malign shadow. Anti semitism is more public, less criticised.
on Holocaust Memorial Day, can’t we remember the millions murdered

When I was teaching citizenship I organised circa lady from the holocaust memorial trust to visit my school and speak to my 15year olds! She was born in Auschwitz after her mother and father were transported from Terezin near Prague! Her mother survived but not her father! She stayed with us and was a delight to be with ! Her mother remarried and lived near Cardiff! She would have nothing to do with anything German!
My visitor had the students in the palm of her hand! She pulled no punches and told the truth
Our students visited this camp as part of their history course and I noticed behaviour changes in many of them on their return
I visited Terezin a few years later and that was a salutary visit !
We cannot ever allow this era to be forgotten ! We owe it to the dead and the survivors

It's very important to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. Aside from honouring those who died one other reason is to be alert to politicians and others who stir up negative feelings towards minority groups because that might lead to a similar atrocity.

The Holocaust continues to cast its malign shadow. Anti semitism is more public, less criticised.
The unfathomable question is, why?
And will this just be a timeless thing that repeats itself throughout History?

As has been previously said, this is nothing new. We only have to look back at (German Jewish) Heinrich Heine's prophesies in the 1830s about the future Holocaust in Germany to see that what happens in the minds of bad people will eventually play out in the real world. And today, antisemitism is becoming more and more visible and public again. That's why so many of us fear for our grandchildren's future.
I don’t know how it can be resolved, on all sides, but equally I refuse to despair about the future. I think yesterday's message was one of hope, that the flames of hatred can only to be extinguished through good thinking and good education.