The Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Parveen Rani and Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of the Council, visited Auschwitz in Poland yesterday – Wednesday 21 October. Joining them, in a group of 30, were other councillors including Deputy Mayor Cllr Morris Bright, and representatives from the local community, faith groups and neighbouring councils.
The visit to the former concentration camp was organised by the council in collaboration with the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), which teaches people from all backgrounds about the Holocaust.
The purpose of the trip was to strengthen local engagement with Holocaust Memorial Day – held on January 27 annually – to support community cohesion and to establish a legacy of remembrance.
HET runs many visits to the Auschwitz through its Lessons from Auschwitz programme, which offers students aged over 16 an opportunity to learn about the history of the Holocaust. The council organised the visit with HET to coincide with a visit from a number of schools and colleges across Hertfordshire, including students from Hertsmere.
The delegation joined the pupils from Hertfordshire schools at the end of the visit for a special memorial service amid the ruins of Crematoria II, Birkenau.
Mayor Councillor Parveen Rani said:
“This trip is a crucial step in creating a legacy of remembrance in the borough. It will ensure future generations will understand the conditions that led to the Holocaust and the murder of millions of people throughout Europe.
“The theme of this visit to Auschwitz is education and, on this very once-in-a-lifetime occasion, I am in no doubt there will be new lessons for all of us to learn.
“Only by understanding the past can we create a better future, for everyone.”
Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust:
“Nothing can prepare you for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and seeing for yourself the scale of the atrocities that took place there. We are pleased to have supported the Mayor, Leader, councillors and community representatives from across Hertsmere on this important visit to the site where over one million Jewish men, women and children were murdered.
“We were especially pleased that Hertsmere’s civic delegation could join young people from local schools on our Lessons from Auschwitz Project. Political and community leaders have an important role to play in ensuring that remembrance is followed by action, by challenging antisemitism and ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust are carried forward in their communities.”
Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of the council said:
“Standing in reflection among the ruins of Birkenau alongside young people from local schools is a moment none of us will forget. More than a million people were murdered at this place, most of them Jews. Seeing it with your own eyes changes you.
“At Hertsmere, we were one of the first UK local authorities to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Our first civic delegation builds upon that. We travelled as councillors, faith leaders and community representatives for many different faiths and backgrounds – but we return with a shared responsibility.
“Auschwitz was not where the Holocaust began. It began with words, with prejudice tolerated, and hatred left unchallenged. That is why Holocaust education matters, and why it matters now. As the last survivors leave us, the duty to remember passes to us. We will make sure the next generation in Hertsmere carries it forwards.”
