Marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen

As we approach the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen on the 15^thApril 2025, we are delighted to announce the launch of ‘Belsen 80’: a suite of classroom resources focused on the history of Bergen-Belsen, its liberation, and its legacies.

These materials were originally developed in 2019 as part of the Belsen 75 educational project – a programme jointly delivered by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and the Holocaust Educational Trust, with support from the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. Funded by the Department for Education, the Belsen 75 project provided schools with information and resources and offered students and teachers with the opportunity to visit Bergen-Belsen.

The Belsen 75 programme was prematurely ended due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the important landmark of the 80^th anniversary represents an opportunity for us to breathe new life into these resources. Having revisited and updated these materials, we are pleased to be able to make these resources available free of charge for all teachers to use. With Belsen 80, teachers have access to four fully resourced lessons, complete with comprehensive support material. They will also have access to a bespoke short history of Bergen-Belsen, written for teachers, as well as the latest in pedagogical guidance for teachers wanting to include the camp within their lessons.

The 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen provides teachers and students with an opportunity to learn more about a site which has historically occupied a prominent place in British historical culture but has frequently been poorly understood. Through the history of Bergen-Belsen and the Belsen 80 materials, teachers and students can deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust, learn more about Britain’s connections with it, and acquire insights into human behaviour and the human condition.