Welcome to the new Holocaust Memorial Day website
We will continue to add content and resources to the new website over the coming months.
Holocaust Memorial Day
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Organise an activity
Find out how you can organise a meaningful activity for Holocaust Memorial Day, with practical ideas to help you plan.
News and blogs
Discover the latest news and announcements from Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and blogs from guest writers.
HMD 2019: Torn from home
Discover the themeThe Holocaust and genocide
Holocaust Memorial Day is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
The Holocaust
Between 1941 and 1945, six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. Their attempt to murder all the Jews in Europe, shook the foundations of civilisation.
Nazi Persecution
The Nazis targeted anyone they believed threatened their ideal of a ‘pure Aryan race’, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay people, political opponents and others.
Cambodia
From 1975 to 1979, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, imposed an extremist programme to reconstruct Cambodia. Millions of people died through starvation, disease and exhaustion, and thousands were executed.
Rwanda
In a violent outpouring in 1994, approximately one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered in just 100 days in the Genocide in Rwanda.
Bosnia
In July 1995, against the backdrop of an ongoing civil war, Bosnian Serb forces led by Ratko Mladić murdered around 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the town of Srebrenica.
Darfur
In 2003 a civil war began in the region of Darfur. Arab militia, known as the Janjaweed attacked black African people, destroying entire villages, murdering civilians and displacing many more.
Life Stories
The experiences of Holocaust and genocide survivors, as well as those who were murdered, give us a unique insight into the lives of those who have endured persecution.
Explore our collection of Life Stories
Renee Bornstein
Renee Bornstein survived the Holocaust by hiding in barns, farms and convents. A resistance worker who took Renee to one of the convents, Marianne, was murdered by the Gestapo.
Witold Pilecki
The only known voluntary inmate of Auschwitz, who spent two and a half years gathering intelligence from within the camp.
Marie Chantal Uwamahoro
During the Genocide in Rwanda, Chantal witnessed the worst of human nature as people turned against each other. She also saw the best of humanity in the neighbours who hid her and helped her survive, despite the risk to themselves and their families.
Hasan Nuhanović
Hasan Nuhanović was an interpreter for the United Nations in Srebrenica and saw his family murdered when the town fell to the Bosnian Serb Army. In the years since he has campaigned for justice for the victims of Srebrenica.
Featured resources
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust provides free resources for everyone to get involved with Holocaust Memorial Day. From lesson plans and assemblies to poems and films, our resources will help you organise meaningful activities for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Discover our resources
HMD assembly for secondary schools - The Holocaust
This assembly introduces secondary age students to Holocaust Memorial Day, and the topic of the Holocaust and genocide, through a survivor’s life story, a poetry reading and opportunities for students to be involved in delivery. We have provided a PowerPoint presentation and a script. Suitable for ages 11-18.
Holocaust Memorial Day Key Stage Two assembly
This interactive assembly introduces older primary age students to Holocaust Memorial Day, and the topic of the Holocaust, through the story of Anne Frank and her diary. We have provided a PowerPoint presentation and a script. Suitable for ages 9-11. Made in partnership with Twinkl.
HMD discrimination lesson plan
Your students will learn how discrimination was used during the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the Genocide in Rwanda. You will discuss antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in society today, and what to do if you are the victim or a witness to a hate crime. Made in partnership with Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination.