ORDINARY OBJECTS EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEYS
Register for our workshops for civil leaders to learn about our innovative project ahead of the launch.
Holocaust Memorial Day
What is Holocaust Memorial Day?
Memorial Book
Create a memorial page to honour an individual murdered during the Holocaust or a more recent genocide.
News and blogs
Over 200 people from across the UK joined us online for the launch of the new theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023.
HMD 2023: Ordinary People
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
The Babi Yar Massacre
The Babi Yar massacre, starting on 29 September 1941, devastated the Jewish community of Kiev and marked one of the deadliest single operations during the Holocaust.
Sharif Barko
Despite escaping the genocide in 2003 and seeking asylum in the UK, Sharif Barko was tragically murdered when he returned to Darfur to arrange for his daughter to join him.
Franziska Mikus
Franziska Mikus was one of more than 10,000 deaf people who were sterilised under the 'Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring' which was brought in by the Nazis in 1933.
Mussa Uwitonze
Mussa Uwitonze became an orphan during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. He was raised in an orphanage, where he developed a lifelong passion for photography.
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
Days to remember
This set of six worksheets introduces secondary school teachers and students to six different genocides through a key date, the experiences of one person, and the story of one artefact. It can also be used in a non-school environment.
Primary Kindertransport lesson plan
This is a flexible lesson plan aimed at 9–11-year-old learners. Your students will learn about Renie Inow, who came to Britain on the Kindertransport at the age of 10. You will read letters her parents sent her, and learn what the Kindertransport programme was, and why it was needed.
Secondary Kindertransport lesson plan
This lesson is suitable for 11–14-year-old students. Through testimony, artefacts and memorials it introduces the history of the Kindertransport – a programme that rescued 10,000 children from the Nazis. It is suitable for use in a range of subjects – such as History, Art and Design, English, RE, PSHE, Citizenship.
Create Together - a group art activity
This activity will support you to bring your organisation or group together to produce a piece of artwork, which can be shared online and displayed in a window, online or at a Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) event.