b'LESSONS FROM AUSCHWITZAs a part of the Lessons from Auschwitzfailingsin conjunction with Nazi propagandaa person could go through. Today, Manfred Project, we attended three online seminarswhich targeted Jews, propagating them as aGoldberg has made it his mission to tell other and completed several activities which aimedrace rather than a religious group. Not onlypeople his story so that we may learn from it to further strengthen our understanding of thedid we explore the spread of hate in Germany,and share it with others. Unfortunately, due to complexities of the Holocaust and comprehendby looking at things like Hitlers legislation, butCovid-19, we were unable to visit the camp its human cost. It allowed us to view thewe also had the opportunity of exploring thein Poland; however, we had a virtual-reality suffering and persecution of the Jewish peoplespread of anti-Semitism throughout history,simulation where we were able to witness the in a new light. We were able to understand thetracing its origins all the way to Judea. journey that the Jews took into the camps. way such hate and prejudice can develop, andThe second session focused on the campThis emphasised the sense of helplessness to gain awareness of not only the extent of theconditions: what the Jews faced starting within the camp, highlighted by the open fields loss of life, but also the loss of culture, customstheir journey until they were inside the camp.surrounding the camp which was contained and ideas, and the contemporary relevanceThis was described to us by Manfred Goldberg,inside tall metal gates and barbed wire.of the tragic events that took place. We wereor as he told us 56478his number fromIn the last session we offered our reflections, able to pass some of this on by presenting it inDecember 1941 to May 1945. While listeningwhat we thought about the events that took front of a group of GCSE history students. Theyto his experiences, we realised how little weplace and our personal understanding of them. appreciated our message, and we are hopefulactually knew about conditions, not just insideWe discussed which areas we believed to be that we will be able to spread this messagethe camps, but in Europe. We were able tothe most impactful and truly showcase the even further. gain an understanding of the overwhelminghorrors the Jews faced as well as what we We hope to raise awareness that all of thosefear of each person inside the camp, neverourselves can do to spread awareness about involved were individuals, not just a statistic,knowing if or when they or their families wouldthis topic. One of the things which we found and we want to be able to stop others, andbe executed or not knowing if their loved onesparticularly important is the book of names. ourselves, having a bystander mentality. Thewere still alive. When Manfred Goldberg wasThis is a book which contains the names of Holocaust has many definitions and one of thegrowing up, he did not have an understandingfour million people who were killed. In the same first things we discussed during the projectof what was happening. He could not find outroom there are pictures of families, showing us was which definition is the most significant.why he was not allowed in certain shops, whywhat was lost, but also what was saved. This The Holocaust is the murder of approximatelyhe was forbidden to go to the theatre, whyis extremely significant as it reminds us that six million Jewish men, women and childrenhe could not use a radio, among many otherwhilst the number of victims is unfathomable, by Nazi Germany and its collaborators duringthings. In 1939, his father was arrested andeach person was an individual, a person, a life. the Second World War. Why is this definitionhe was soon also arrested with his family andThese testimonies should inspire us to not let so significant? It allows us to humanise thispacked onto a cramped train for three dayshistory repeat itself. We looked at different ways number that we keep hearing. Every singlewith no water, food or light. He lived throughin which the Holocaust affects us today, in the person who went through the Holocaust hasmany atrocities during this time, witnessingform of the book of names or the memorial in their own unique story and we should view it aseight people being hanged, constant manualWestminster to the survivors alive today and if it could happen right now. labour, seeing a man killed at such a youngtheir families. However, it isnt limited to just Each session focused on a different aspectage, and many other similar experiencesalltheseit affects our history and our country. of the Holocaust. The first session looked atwhile on a starvation diet. Manfred GoldbergUltimately we must stand together against all the history of the Holocaust as well as thetold us about his horrific experience movingforms of prejudice, racism, hate and genocide.misconceptions surrounding it. We learntthrough three camps, the last one beingCallum Khan & Amir Aaron El-Harithabout why the Nazis persecuted the JewstoStutthof, and he elaborated on what we use them as a scapegoat for Germanys priorbelieve to be the most torturous experience 15'