b'LESSONS FROM AUSCHWITZIn March, around 180 students from the WestWe continued to Auschwitz-Birkenau, another Midlands represented their schools on thiscamp that is part of the larger complex. Here thoroughly educational trip. Each one of uswe learned about the rails and carriages that was unaware of the emotional impact that thetransported the deported prisoners through visit would have on us; this was a thought- the gates into the camp, and discovered provoking yet harrowing experience that hashow their lives were instantly changed. We branded us permanently. also had access to the barracks where the Our first visit was to Auschwitz I. Theprisoners were housed; they were often general atmosphere at the camp was onecramped on bunk beds and there was no of profound rumination, all of us in deepinsulation, allowing for the most extreme of thought, struggling to comprehend that thetemperatures, clearly a detriment to their very ground we were standing on was thehealth. Many of the gas chambers were same ground that 1,300,000 prisoners alsodestroyed by the Nazis to avoid moral once stood on. Despite the relatively pleasantcondemnation; all that remained was the weather outside, our guided walk aroundrubble, which could be viewed at the site. the blocks was definitely eerieviewing theTo end our visit to Auschwitz there was a authentic clothing, punishment reports, listsreflection session, held by a Rabbi, where we of the deceased and the Death Wall addedall sat pensively as he spoke words of deep a sense of realism that cannot be provided bythought and consideration, a warming end to any textbook. Although the facts and figureswhat was an emotionally harrowing day.presented to us by our guide may not haveOur trip to Auschwitz was one of mental evoked a significant shift in emotion, whenengagement. It is hard to even begin to we were able to individualise these prisonerscomprehend the importance of this place. through access to their personal, pre-warIt truly was an educational trip, but it went lives we started to understand the true depthfar beyond that to explore the many layers of the horrors at Auschwitz and the holocaust.of morality, humanity and history that are We learned that each and every prisoner hadembedded into the soils of Auschwitz.their own identity, their own experiences thatGabriel Dino and Ayaan Yousaf,differed from victim to victim, and a numberYear 12cannot illustrate this; this was perhaps the biggest trigger to sentiment.VE Day musingsThe 8th of May marked 75 years since the jubilant scenes of VE Day and the end of the Second World War in Europe. For my Grandma, Dorothy Rose Williams, the most striking thing was the light. As a child born in the war, the world she knew was bathed in darkness with no street lamps to guide you. The only source of evening light would be the smouldering factories and homes of Birmingham and Coventry targeted by the Luftwaffe.VE Day was different. It was an explosion of laughter and light, excitement and joy. Everything was allowed (and relaxed) with Birmingham, lit up like Times Square, enjoying a well-earned release from the sacrifices of the previous six years. For my Grandad, Alan Durrant, a few miles away in West Bromwich, the excitement was so much he was compelled to set an oil drum on fire, and in doing so became a forerunner to Keith Flint as the drum grew so hot it welded itself to the road!Friday was supposed to be different: a day of street parties, church bells, fly-pasts and shared joy. Instead, it was a moment of spiritual togetherness, even if we were physically at least two metres apart. In my house, the day consisted of baking a rather sorry-looking sponge cake (in true make do and mend fashion), listening to the music of the era, talking to my Grandma and getting a glimpse of her happiness 75 years ago. Other teachers joined in the festivities, festooning their houses with bunting, baking some quite magnificent cakes and dancing the Lindy Hop.The jubilation and relief in Britain and across the Empire 75 years ago offers a few lessons for our current common struggle. Firstly, that Britain is truly great when we all come together. Victory was only possible due to the sacrifices of all Britons, regardless of gender, profession or ethnicity. We need only look back 75 years to see what we can achieve together. Second, we must safeguard our most valuable historical source: those who lived through such times. We should all take a moment, have a cuppa and ask a question of our elders, as who knows what rich tapestry we will find.VE Day 75 was not what it was meant to be, but in true British fashion it was a My attemptspectacular commemoration all the same.at an egglessMr Harveysponge19'