Holocaust Memorial Day Devon 2021 Be the light in the darkness The 27th January every year stands out as an important day, reminding us of the unparalleled horrors of the WW2 holocaust, as well as subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. This year’s theme, be the light in the darkness, is an affirmation and a call to action for everyone marking HMD. This theme asks everyone to consider different kinds of ‘darkness’, for example, identity-based persecution, misinformation, denial of justice; and different ways of ‘being the light’, for example, resistance, acts of solidarity, rescue and illuminating mistruths.

Programme of events for schools

Public ceremony CANCELLED (due to Covid restrictions) 10am on Wed 27th January 2021 Cathedral commemoration event (15 mins)

Video talks The following talks will be pre-recorded and made accessible to schools here by 21st January. See more details of these talks below.

 Lizzie Small: Porrajmos film, the untold story of the Romani genocide at the hands of the Nazis (Y8 upwards)  Stuart Raine: the story of Otto Deutsch, Kindertransport child (Y5 upwards)  Anastasia Somerville-Wong: Genocide in Cambodia, when the darkest side of our nature prevails (Y8 upwards)  Helen Fry: the story of the Jewish refugees living in North Devon during WW2 (Y5 upwards) (available after 10th February)

Lizzie Small: HMD resources for schools Useful links  Assembly ppts (primary and secondary)  Lesson plans  Holocaust denial  Activities https://www.hmd.org.uk/resources/?genocide=any&resource_type=11&age=any

Resources for Primary schools https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/schools/primary-schools/

Resources for Secondary Schools https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/schools/secondary-schools/

Tutor-time activities for secondary schools https://www.hmd.org.uk/resource/hmd-tutor-time-activities-for-secondary-schools/

HMD Together Ideas for how to mark Holocaust Memorial Day https://www.hmd.org.uk/take-part-in-holocaust-memorial-day/hmd-together/

Foundation stones Foundation Stones invites you to paint a stone in remembrance of the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered in the Holocaust https://www.big-ideas.org/current-projects/foundation-stones/

Poetry competition for schools https://www.hmd.org.uk/resource/poetry-writing-activity/

What you can learn about genocide in 20 minutes https://www.hmd.org.uk/news/what-can-you-learn-about-genocide-in-20-minutes/

Details of talks Lizzie Small: Porrajmos, the untold story of the Romani genocide Lizzie is a member of the Roma community, and she will be showing the powerful and moving film ‘Porrajmos’ (Romani holocaust), which explores the prejudice targetted against Roma and Sinti peoples, and documents their treatment at the hands of the Nazis in WW2.

Stuart Raine: the story of Otto Deutsch, Kindertransport child Otto was from a Jewish working class family in Vienna. His father was arrested and disappeared on Kristallnacht, denounced by his best friend. Otto was saved with a cousin because they were young enough for their parents to find them places on the Kindertransport trains out of Vienna. Otto’s older sister Adele was not allowed to go being too old. The remainder of the family perished in the Holocaust. He spent the greater part of his retirement in Westcliff/Southend telling his story to schools and other groups so that the family would not be forgotten so it is entirely appropriate that we continue to remember and pass what happened on to future generations. More details about Otto here

Genocide in Cambodia: when the darkest side of our nature prevails Giving examples from historical genocides, Dr Anastasia Somerville-Wong explains why, under certain conditions, people start to see those with different characteristics as subhuman. There is a particular focus on the 1975-1979 genocide in Cambodia, which had a devastating impact on members of her family. Anastasia goes on to explain how these tragedies can be prevented by creating and sustaining economic and political systems which thrive on diversity and nurture the better side of human nature.

Helen Fry: the story of the Jewish refugees living in North Devon during WW2 North Devon became a temporary haven for over 3,000 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution as well as evacuees from Britain’s cities. The secluded coastal seaside towns of Westward Ho! And Ilfracombe provided a welcome oasis from the realities of war. Helen Fry: the story of the Jewish refugees living in North Devon during WW2

Evening Zoom talks and discussion open to the public We will be sharing the recorded talks via Zoom, followed by live discussion with the speakers. See DFBF website for booking information. 7.30pm Wed 20th January Lizzie Small: Porrajmos, the untold story of the Romani genocide at the hands of the Nazis. Booking here 7.30pm Wed 27th January Stuart Raine: the story of Otto Deutsch, Kindertransport child. Booking here 7.30pm Wed 3rd February Anastasia Somerville-Wong: Genocide in Cambodia, when the darkest side of our nature prevails. Booking here 7.30pm Wed 10th February Helen Fry: the story of the Jewish refugees living in North Devon during WW2. Booking here

“Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.” ― Primo Levi

Please contact Ed Pawson at [email protected] for further information