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Holocaust survivor speaks at National Holocaust Museum in Laxton as part of Holocaust Memorial Day events programme




Last week, the world paused to remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust as part of an international memorial day.

Events were held in all corners of the globe to mark the occasion, made all the more poignant by the 80th anniversary of the liberation Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was of the most notorious extermination camp in history.

At the National Holocaust Museum, in Laxton, a specially curated programme of exhibitions, film and live speakers, was designed to honour the last survivors of those historic events — both to remember the victims, and to ask tough questions of ourselves today.

Talk with Holocaust survivor Bob Norton at the National Holocaust Museum. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.
Talk with Holocaust survivor Bob Norton at the National Holocaust Museum. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.

One of those who spoke included Holocaust survivor, Bob Norton, of Nottingham, who delivered his compelling life story to a full audience.

Visitors also engaged in an expert led curator talk, exploring anti-Jewish racism before, during and after The Holocaust, using original artefacts from Nazi Germany, including a prisoner uniform and beer stein covered in antisemitic symbolism.

Despite the harsh weather, the museum’s memorial gardens were filled with over 1000 white roses and memorial plaques honouring those who perished in the Shoah — a term for the Holocaust — where a moment of reflection was observed.

The day came to a close with the lighting of a candle and a prayer to commemorate the dead.

Talk with Maya Lasker-Wallfisch at the National Holocaust Museum. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.
Talk with Maya Lasker-Wallfisch at the National Holocaust Museum. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.

In partnership with Warner Bros, a live screening of The Commandant’s Shadow was accompanied by an interview with Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, daughter of Anita Lasker-Wallfish, who was an imprisoned cellist in the Auschwitz’s women’s orchestra and starred in the film.

Maya explored themes of second generational trauma and the impact of growing up as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Dr Martin Stern telling his testimony of survival to students in Manchester. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.
Dr Martin Stern telling his testimony of survival to students in Manchester. Photo: National Holocaust Museum.

Away from the museum, the education team visited schools up and down the country, accompanied by long-term friend of the museum, Dr Martin Stern, who himself was liberated from Theresienstadt in May 1945.

Last week, Holocaust Memorial Day was also marked in Newark with a ceremony at the statue of Irena Sendler, who help save hundreds of children from being sent to the concentration camps.

The museum is open to the public from Sunday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm.



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