Sunday 27th January marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and to mark this event, our History students watched a live broadcast and listened to a Holocaust survivor share her testimony about life in Hungary during the war after the Nazi invasion. Susan Pollack told of her 10 weeks in Auschwitz before being moved to a German ammunition factory to work, aged only 15. Her account was deeply moving. At the end of the war Susan was marched to Bergen Belsen where she was liberated by British troops on 15th April 1945. Between 1941 and 1945 more than six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered during the Holocaust and this significant Memorial Day allowed us to bear witness to this atrocity and honour the victims, survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition. The History department are extremely proud of all our GCSE students for their excellent conduct and attentiveness throughout the live webinar broadcast. Students have sent messages of thanks to Susan for sharing her remarkable and very moving story with us. Student quotes: “I found the talk both moving and equally heart breaking and so motivational to listen to. Thank you so much for the opportunity to hear a real testimony. I have never appreciated life so much before then.” “I found the talk both moving and important in educating people about the horrors of the past, but also instilling hope for the future.” “It made me appreciate the life that I have now. Such an amazing and strong woman.”