Introduction
The state and condition of Bergen-Belsen in the middle of April 1945 was almost beyond imagination. Overcrowding, malnutrition, and typhus had combined to wreak havoc through the camp’s population – resulting in scenes of death and degrees of suffering that shocked the soldiers who had arrived to ‘liberate’ the camp to their very core. But amidst this horror lay a stark and acute humanitarian crisis: namely, how to maintain order, prevent the spread of disease, and provide relief to those still alive.
The materials in this lesson provide students with a unique opportunity to learn more about the scale of the challenges faced by the liberators, and the many ways in which the experience impacted them. Because of the traumatic nature of the material, teachers are strongly encouraged to use their professional judgement when using these resources with their students.
The original Belsen 75 programme was delivered by UCL Centre for Holocaust Education, the Holocaust Educational Trust, with support from the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, and made possible thanks to funding from the Department for Education.