Majdanek
Monument, Poland - a symbol of tragedy, hope and victory
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A living
history lesson took place in Norfolk as the city remembered
the Holocaust writes Claire Whiteman.
This grim chapter in Europe's history was the Nazis' campaign
against the Jews between 1933 and 1945. It culminated in what
the Nazis called the 'Final Solution of the Jewish Question
in Europe', in which over six million Jews were murdered.
The Jews were not the only victims of Nazism. It is estimated
that as many as 15 million civilians were killed including millions
of Gypsies and members of various other groups because of their
race, or religion, or disability, or sexuality.
"The Holocaust is something which will never ever be forgotten
by Jews. There are still many survivors, in particular there
are whole families who perished in the Holocaust," said
Alex Bennett, Minister for the Hebrew Congregation of Norwich.
"The sheer numbers are impossible to assimilate."
Norfolk remembers
On Saturday
January 27, the Norfolk and Norwich Council of Christians and
Jews unveiled an exhibition at Norwich Cathedral entitled Kinder
Transport.
Canon
Michael Stagg |
"Ten thousand
children were actually given refuge in this country, which I
think is a very positive thing given the difficulties we have
with the present asylum seekers," said Canon Michael Stagg,
who chairs the Norfolk and Norwich Branch of the Council of
Christian and Jews.
"It reminds people that we have got a history, a tradition
of welcoming people, particularly vulnerable people like children."
Kinder Transport
was a scheme which helped Jewish children flee to safer countries.
The majority of the children never saw their parents again.
After sending their children to new lives, they died in concentration
camps such as Auschwitz.
IIse Bell was just 14 years old when her mother sent her to
England. Kinder Transport saved her life.
IIse
Bell |
"It
was particularly difficult because by then my father was in
a concentration camp together with all Jewish males in Germany
between 16 and 60.
"She realised, I didn't realise, that war was imminent,
sooner or later. We had no contacts, in foreign countries therefore
there was no hope for the family to emigrate as a family,"
said IIse.
"When Holland first, then England offered to take Jewish
children, that was one way she could save my life, and she did."
She never saw her parents, Erich and Lisbeth Korn, again. They
died in the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp.
IIse, 78, said: "I think it is very important indeed that
the world should remember what human beings, any human beings
not just Germans, all of us, are capable of in the way of barbaric
cruelty."
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