Commemorated annually on 27 January since 2001, Holocaust Memorial Day marks the liberation by Russian troops on 27 January 1945 of Auschwitz-Birkenau - the largest Nazi concentration camp in Poland where countless Jewish, Roma, Sinti, LGBTQ+ and disabled people lost their lives.
This year, Holocaust Memorial Day is underpinned by the theme ‘For a Better Future’ where we can learn from and about the Holocaust and the more recent genocides in countries such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and Rohingya. By learning about these examples, it can help us all to identify the warning signs in the world around us.
This Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) also marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
Susan Orr, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Equalities, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and the million more lives that we’ve lost to other genocides.
“On this day of commemoration, it is essential that we reflect on the sheer scale of murder in the Holocaust. If we had one minute of silence for every victim of the Holocaust – our silence would need to last eleven and a half years.
"I have seen photos of piles and piles of victim’s glasses in Auschwitz. I sit writing this quote wearing my own glasses and it reminds me that behind every pair of glasses is a life and a story that was cut short through systematic murder.
“This year’s theme, ‘For a Better Future’, serves as an important reminder to come together, learn both from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future for all.
“Please join us in paying our respects to the Jewish people and other communities who were murdered for who they were and take a stand against prejudice and hatred.”
Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration event
DMU will be hosting a Holocaust Memorial Day event to commemorate those killed in the Holocaust and genocides. This will take place on Monday 27 January at 7pm in Hugh Aston, 0.10.
The event will feature a student panel discussion, a talk by Aubrey Newman, Emeritus Professor of History at The Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University of Leicester and readings of short stories by winners of the Paul Winstone memorial competition.
You can also watch an on-demand recording of Professor Newman’s Holocaust Memorial Day talk from last year, created in conjunction with DMU partner Leicester City Council.
Virtual Srebrenica room at DMU
To commemorate the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, an immersive new digital learning space was created at DMU. The facility is a virtual reality education environment which teaches users about the massacre in which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered by units of the Bosnian Serb Army in July 1995.
Posted on Friday 24 January 2025