Introduction
There has long been a difference between the history and the memory of Bergen-Belsen. While the chaotic condition of the camp and immediate humanitarian crisis were obstacles to understanding what had taken place there, in the months, years, and decades that followed liberation Bergen-Belsen became enveloped in much myth and misunderstanding.
The history of Bergen-Belsen is complicated and complex – like the history of the Holocaust of which the camp became part of. In this lesson, students will develop a secure body of historical knowledge and understanding of Bergen-Belsen. In the process, they will encounter new insights and questions which they can bring to bear on their wider comprehension of the Holocaust.
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.