On Wednesday 29 January, Year 9 – Year 13 students from Northampton High School listened to a testimony from Holocaust survivor, Paul Sved, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

The testimony was followed by a Question and Answer session to give students a better understanding of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth. The visit is part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive all-year-round Outreach Programme, which is available to schools across the UK.

Laura, Year 13 student, said:

“Holocaust survivor, Paul Sved, shared with us his eyewitness account of living through the holocaust in Hungary from the perspective of his six-year-old self. His incredible, personal story was interwoven with historical and political context, bringing to life a time that future generations will only be able to learn about through textbooks.

There was a silence in the room while everyone seemed to hold their breath as Paul recounted his striking interactions with a number of faces he will remember forever, from the frightened eyes of a young German soldier, to the first English speaker he met upon his arrival in the UK.

I know Paul’s story will have changed the way we commemorate such an important historical period, especially adding to our knowledge of the events in Hungary, a perspective often not given the spotlight it deserves.

We are incredibly grateful to Paul for highlighting to us that the Holocaust was so much more than just a series of horrific events. It required immense bravery from countless, seemingly ordinary people.”