Holocaust Day

" This winter there is a danger that
not all of the Jews can be fed anymore.
One might weigh honestly,
if the most humane solution might not be
to finish off those of the Jews
who are not employable
by means of some quick-working device.
Report to SS-Obersturmbannführer Eichmann, 1941

There was a moving presentation at the Sixth Form assembly on Friday, to remember the Holocaust, when so many millions of Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime in the second world war. And we were also remembering the many thousands who have been killed in wars all over the world since then.

There is a video to be seen here.  It shows the remains of the concentration camp at Auschwitz, scene of many deaths.

The picture here shows women lining up to enter the camp, shortly to be ushered into the gas chambers.

During the summer of 1944. When the crematoria ovens were not functioning properly, or were insufficient to dispose of the huge volume of corpses, the bodies were burned and then buried in ditches. These photographs were taken secretly by members of the Polish resistance, and several of them were smuggled to England.

A time-line of the Holocaust can be seen here.

This was a temporary gas chamber at Auschwitz.

The testimony of a witness:

"There was a sign 'to disinfection'. He said 'you see, they are bringing children now'. They opened the door, threw the children in and closed the door. There was a terrible cry.

A member of the SS climbed on the roof. (This is where the gas was inserted into the chamber). The people went on crying for about ten minutes. Then the prisoners opened the doors. Everything was in disorder and contorted. Heat was given off. the bodies were loaded on a rough wagon and taken to a ditch. The next batch were already undressing in the huts. "

(From the testimony of SS private Boeck)

In the foyer in the school you will see this. In Jewish tradition, stones are often placed on graves as a sign of remembrance. It was the sixth form's way of marking this awful phase in history.

RL