Introduction
The liberation of Bergen-Belsen on the 15th April 1945 was a significant event in the history of the Holocaust and the Second World War. It was also an important moment in British history. When the British and other Allied soldiers walked into the concentration camp, they were met with a sight so disturbing it would be etched into the consciousness of a generation. In April 1945, Bergen-Belsen was a site of horrific depravity and mass suffering inflicted upon innocent men, women, and children – the majority of whom were Jewish.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation, we are delighted to be able to provide teachers with a comprehensive suite of classroom resources to help them explore the camp and its history with their students. Originally developed for the Belsen 75 project that was devised by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education and the Holocaust Educational Trust, these are high quality, historically accurate resources for use in secondary schools designed to develop the knowledge and understanding of young people. As well as deepening awareness of Bergen-Belsen, the materials also provide the context of its liberation within the broader history of the Holocaust and the complexities of British responses to that genocide.
On this page you can download an overview of the four lessons developed for these purposes, which outlines how these materials can be used in the classroom. You will also find on this page a short history of Bergen-Belsen for teachers, as well as pedagogical guidance to help you deliver these materials.