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The Herald Scotland
27-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Bergen-Belsen survivors attend event marking 80th anniversary of liberation
Tens of thousands of people, including diarist Anne Frank, died at the camp in northern Germany, which was liberated by the British on April 15 1945. Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich speaking during the service (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The delegation took part in the international commemorations at the main Obelisk where Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner spoke, and both her and Lord Coaker laid wreaths. A wreath was also laid by AJEX veterans Ron Shelley and Ivan Sugarman, with the salute from Dan Fox, AJEX national chairman. There was also a ceremony at the Jewish memorial with the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi Reuben Livingstone and music from the Shabbaton Choir. Wreaths were laid by Ms Rayner, Countdown star Rachel Riley and Lieutenant Colonel Simon Soskin. Mr Fox said: 'Nothing could have prepared the men of the 11th Armoured Division for what they confronted as they entered Bergen-Belsen on 15th April 1945. People at the service to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen (Jordan Pettitt/PA) 'Within its confines, they came face-to-face with the last belt of Hitler's genocidal conveyor. 'That day, British soldiers turned destruction into the beginning of repair and nightmares into the start of hope. 'We honour them all today: liberators, survivors and those who lost their lives.' After the formal proceedings, AJEX ran a commemoration event led by Mr Fox which included an interview between Mala Tribich, Holocaust survivor and Ms Riley, readings and words from Lord Coaker, Lord Lt Robert Voss, Alexandra Singer, Rob Rinder, Lord Finkelstein, Rabbi Josh Levy and John Hill. The UK young people were provided with an educational programme along with German students. The delegation also included family of Reverends Leslie Hardman and Isaac Levy, military chaplains who ministered to the survivors in the immediate days following liberation.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
The horrors witnessed by British troops at Bergen-Belsen – and how they gave survivors their dignity back
Some argue that the Holocaust happened elsewhere, far from our shores. But Britain's connection to the Holocaust – and the role the country played in bringing it to an end – must never be forgotten. Eighty years ago this week, on 15 April 1945, the British Army's 11th Armoured Division liberated Bergen-Belsen. They found unimaginable horrors – thousands of unburied bodies and tens of thousands of emaciated, gravely ill prisoners. Faced with hell on earth, these brave British soldiers did more than just rescue those who had survived – they restored dignity. The conditions in the camp were so horrific that even battle-hardened soldiers struggled to comprehend what they had witnessed. Yet they acted with extraordinary compassion: tending to the sick, burying the dead with respect, providing food and medicine, and installing water pipes for showers. The Nazis sought to strip Jewish people of their humanity. They shaved their heads, replaced their names with numbers, starved them, forced them into slave labour, and dressed them in the same thin, flimsy striped uniforms. Reclaiming humanity came in many forms. As survivors ' health began to improve, they were sent to pick out new clothes from a supply store inside the camp, nicknamed 'Harrods'. This 'shop' was stocked with clothing provided by relief organisations or taken from nearby German towns. Norna Alexander, a nurse with the 29th British General Hospital, which arrived at Bergen-Belsen just over a month after liberation, recalled the joy this brought: 'When they were strong enough to walk, they would be sent to 'Harrods' and come back – and the joy on their faces – the men would have nice smart suits and the ladies dresses, and shoes. It really boosted their spirits.' A simple act – a change of clothes – helped survivors begin to reclaim their identity and their dignity. Survival was not just about food and shelter but about rediscovering a sense of self. The young soldiers who provided this relief were the same soldiers who fought their way onto the beaches of Normandy and battled until the evils of Nazism were defeated. The same people who liberated the camps, cared for survivors, and helped them reclaim their names, their lives, and their futures. They were – and remain – heroes. However, Britain's connection to the Holocaust did not end with liberation. It continued with the survivors who were brought here to rebuild their lives. Today, many of these survivors still travel across the country while they still can, supported by the Holocaust Educational Trust, sharing their testimonies with schoolchildren – so that the next generation understands what happened and why it must never be repeated. Some may still argue that the Holocaust happened elsewhere. But the British soldiers who stood at the gates of Bergen-Belsen knew the depravity they witnessed must be seen by the world and never forgotten. They bore witness to the atrocities. They restored dignity to the survivors. And they carried the weight of that history home with them. Eighty years on from the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, the Holocaust is not a distant tragedy – it is woven into Britain's story. Alongside the Allies, Britain defeated the Nazis and the hateful ideology that fuelled their crimes. The soldiers who bore witness to the camps and the survivors who rebuilt their lives here are part of our shared history. At the Holocaust Educational Trust, we work every day to ensure that this history – and Britain's connection to it – is never forgotten.
