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Year 9 trip to the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum

Recently, Year 9 went on an educational history trip in order to learn more about the Holocaust and experiences from World War One and World War Two. This trip was especially interesting and important as it links to the topic we will be learning after the Christmas Half Term.

At arrival of the museum, our fellow pupils were spilt into two separate groups. The first group was able to walk around the museum to get deeper knowledge into different vehicles and accessories/tools used within World War One and Two. While the first group explored the museum, the second group were getting a better understanding of the events that took place during the Holocaust. In the second group, we were given a tablet per group that made us really think about what prior knowledge we have about the Holocaust. This led us to then using the special tablets to navigate around a part of the museum which showed us where and why World War Two began. While walking, the tablet asked us questions which made everyone really take a minute to think about the sites that we had been looking and reading. Quite a key exhibition that caught many people’s eyes, was a story about a girl called Anita. Through reading the engaging information, we had learned that Anita played the cello before the outbreak of the war and prisoner camps. This meant that Anita played in the camp’s band which also meant that she was able to receive more food than some of the others. Ultimately, having extra food saved her life. This is due to a girl swapping a red jumper with Anita so she could have Anita’s extra food. Anita excepted the offer and took the jumper so she could stay warm in the winter. Now, that very jumper is on sight in the museum where everyone can learn Anita’s story and even Anita herself was able to visit the exhibition. Many of us found this story quite touching to see just how something as small as a jumper, had a huge impact on her life.

However, not everything that was on the exhibition was as heart-warming as Anita’s story.  While exploring all of the information, we came across lots of figures which showed us just how many people were fatally injured or passed away from suffering in the many prisoner of war camps. There was also a video that showed us just how people suffered severely through starvation, dehydration, constantly working and so many more reasons. By seeing these images for ourselves, we were able to see just how many innocent people had to go through just because of their race, religion, DNA heritage or just the way they looked. Even though the video was upsetting, it was also very educational. This is because we were able to see just how much people had to go through so that we can have our freedom today.

The trip was an incredible opportunity for us to see what many people experienced and to carry on their stories even when they might not be able to share them anymore.