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Holocaust Memorial Day
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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.
Sokphal Din
Forced out of his home by the Khmer Rouge on 17 April 1975, Sokphal endured hard labour in the Killing Fields and eventually survived the Genocide in Cambodia by escaping to Thai refugee camps where he lived for seven years.
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.
Sabit Jakupović
Sabit came to the UK from Bosnia in 1992 as part of a group of 68 people who were selected by the International Red Cross, as they needed immediate hospital care. He had been imprisoned for 120 days in two different Bosnian concentration camps, one of which was the notorious Omarska camp.
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 Tutor Time activities for secondary schools
This set of five activities are designed for use in tutor times. They include short activities and discussion questions to introduce students to the genocides remembered on Holocaust Memorial Day. Students will learn about people affected by the Holocaust and genocide and explore a range of themes.
HMD 2019 Postcard Project – secondary schools
The HMD 2019 Postcard Project explores the theme Torn from home. Students will learn the history and explore life stories of people affected by the Holocaust and the Genocide in Cambodia and write postcards to them. As a class you will receive a message in response.
HMD assembly – primary schools
This assembly for Key Stage 2 (or equivalent) introduces students to Holocaust Memorial Day, what we are commemorating, and how we can mark it. It includes poetry and film to engage students with the day. It can be delivered on or around 27 January.