Jersey marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Monday, 27 January 2025 06:00

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

Jersey joins the world in commemorating and remembering victims of the Holocaust on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Holocaust Memorial Day (Mon 27 January) remembers the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and the millions more murdered through the Nazi persecution of other groups. It also is a time to mark subsequent genocides recognised by the UK government.

This year marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex.

Jersey’s commemorations will take place at 1pm in the Occupation Tapestry Gallery at the Maritime Museum.

The service will be followed by the laying of wreaths outside, at the Lighthouse Memorial overlooking the harbour. Members of the public are invited to attend and should arrive by 12.30pm.

The guest speaker this year is the Director of The Wiener Holocaust Library in London, Dr Toby Simpson. Members of the Jersey Arts Centre Youth Theatre will deliver readings and the Dean of Jersey, The Very Rev Mike Keirle, will give a closing address.

The wreath-laying ceremony outside at the Lighthouse Memorial will be led by the Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd. Other wreath-layers will include the families of the 21 Jersey victims of Nazi persecution and forced/slave workers remembered on the Lighthouse Memorial; the Jersey Jewish Congregation; Occupation internees and evacuees; and religious leaders.

A Holocaust Memorial Day Trust project ‘80 Candles for 80 Years’ involves the creation of bespoke candleholders to highlight those persecuted by the Nazis. Jersey’s candleholder stands nearly a metre tall and was designed by Carmella Knight and Chris Addy.

Jersey's candle remembers eight of the Island’s wartime Jewish community.

A free exhibition at Link Gallery tells the story of the plight of the island's Jewish residents, the experience of the foreign labourers of the Organisation Todt and the civilian political prisoners imprisoned and deported for acts of disobedience and defiance. It is open daily until 29 January.