On Wednesday 9th March, 30 historians from the Remove visited the Imperial War Museum in London.
This remarkable day started with the new Holocaust Galleries. We were given a thought-provoking introduction before we went into these galleries, together with audio-sets which helped explain particular aspects. The solemn and deeply moving galleries, which have been designed with extraordinary care, absorbed all of our pupils, who found the relics from the camps (including part of a hut wall) particularly compelling.
At the same time as this trip, the College declared its support for and adherence to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of Antisemitism:
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
It can be found online here. This definition is all the more important in an age where alternative and untrue narratives – some of which seek to deny the Holocaust – still, depressingly, exist.
We had a full day at the museum, and though the Holocaust Galleries visit formed the centre-piece, we also had a good look at the World War II galleries, where pupils were thrilled to see the ‘piece of paper’ signed by Hitler and Chamberlain at Munich in 1938, together with many other extraordinary relics. The Remove pupils had all been studying this part of History in the days and weeks before the trip. With bright sun outside, and the newness of the Ukraine conflict, the whole day made a particularly vivid and powerful impression.
Head of History, Head of Scholars