Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is observed on 27 January each year – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. On that date, we remember the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust, the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution, and those who have died in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
What is genocide?
The General Assembly of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Dec 9th 1948) defines genocide as:
‘any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
killing members of the group
causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
forcibly transferring children of the group to another group’
UN General Assembly, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 9 December 1948, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 78, p. 277
Within our library, you can find a variety of books relating to the Holocaust, ranging from picture books suitable for young children to academic essays. Many of the books draw from the words of individuals telling their own stories, which is something we at the Centre feel is very important and reflects our core values, and which also links in with this year’s HMD theme of ‘One Day’.
Here are some titles which we have selected to form part of our HMD display – please drop in and check them out, and browse our shelves for further reading material. (We’ve included the catalogue number to help you find these and similar books on our shelves)
Books for children
Anne Frank written by Ma Isabel Sánchez Vegara; illustrated by Sveta Dorosheva.
This book in the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the story of Anne Frank using simple text and large simple images, suitable for younger children.
HI.2/VEG (Children’s)
Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust. Loic Dauvillier translated by Alexis Siegel, Marc Lizano (Illustrator), Greg Salsedo (Inker)
Graphic novel in which a grandmother shares her experiences as a child in Nazi-occupied France, suitable for fairly young children
HI.2/DAU (Children’s)
Hiding from the Nazis David A Adler
True account of a young Jewish child in hiding in Holland during the Nazi invasion
Simply told with large illustrations, suitable for older primary school and upwards
HI.2/ADL (Children’s)
Passage to freedom : the Sugihara story written by Ken Mochizuki ; illustrated by Dom Lee ; afterword by Hiroki Sugihara.
The story of Chiune Sugihara, who helped thousands of Jews to flee German-occupied territory in Europe by issuing transit visas to them at great personal risk.
Illustrated throughout. Suitable for children
HI.2/MOC (Children’s)
Hidden : true stories of children who survived World War II Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis.
First person accounts from children who had to go into hiding during World War Two
Includes photographs. Suitable for older children
HI.2/PRI (Children’s).
Older children/adults
Survival: Holocaust survivors tell their story Foreword by Sir Martin Gilbert; edited by Wendy Whitworth.
Stories from Holocaust survivors including poetry and photographs (portrait and family) Suitable for older children and adults
HI.2/SUR
Forgotten voices of the Holocaust Lyn Smith.
Anthology of interview extracts organised chronologically
Suitable for older children/adults – as each extract is quite short, they are useful as a focus for discussion
HI.2/SMI
The world of Anne Frank compiled by the Anne Frank House ; foreword by Julia Neuberger.
Collection of photographs with some explanatory text, giving historical perspective on the story of Anne Frank.
HI.2/ANN
Children’s Drawings from the Concentration Camp of Terezίn
A collection of artwork and poetry created by children imprisoned in the concentration camp at Terezίn, along with excerpts from magazines which they secretly issued.
Suitable for children and adults.
HI.2/CHI
Boy 30529: A Memoir Felix Weinberg
The true story of a Jewish child who survived five concentration camps before building a new life in Britain.
Suitable for older children and adults
HI.2/WEI
Adult readers
Hořίcί Nebesa (The Burning Skies) Jiřί Fränkl
The memoirs of a Jewish teacher and Holocaust Survivor from Czechoslovakia who recounts his experiences during the Holocaust. This book includes both the original Czech and the English translation.
HI.2/FRA
A Holocaust Reader Michael L Morgan
Collection of philosophical, theological and political essays on issues raised by the Holocaust.
Suitable for general readers as well as academics.
HI.2/MOR
The Role of Righteous Muslims Edited by Fiyaz Mughal and Esmond Rosen
Pamphlet looking at the role of Muslims who risked their lives to save Jews during the Second World War
HI.2/ROL
For more about Holocaust Memorial Day, visit the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website, where you will find resources including life stories of survivors and those who were murdered, virtual activities, schools materials, films, images and this marvellous exhibition of photographs on the theme of ‘One Day’
