Wandsworth Marks Holocaust Memorial Day

The town hall will be illuminated purple, and local people are encouraged to light a candle and place it in their window at 4pm to commemorate those who have lost their lives in genocide.

The borough’s libraries will have displays of books and other materials and from 2pm-3pm Southfields Library will have an event called Ordinary People – this year’s theme. Visitors will be able to use library computers to learn more about the Holocaust and read the life stories of victims of genocide.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place every year on January 27 to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of others killed under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

This date in January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the many Nazi death camps.

The Mayor of Wandsworth Cllr Jeremy Ambache said: “Please take a few minutes today to learn more about the Holocaust and the personal stories of its victims – who were ordinary people just like you or I. It is only by learning the lessons of the past that we can avoid repeating them.”