History students at Ashton Sixth Form College took part in the Holocaust Education Trust's live webcast. The event was part of the HET's programme to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2020. 

Susan Pollack MBE shared her experiences of the Holocaust in conversation with actress Tracy-Ann Oberman. The webcast was live streamed across the world and gave schools, colleges and organisations across the country the chance to hear from a Holocaust survivor. 

The HET have shared Susan's story on their website and the fully story can be view at www.het.org.uk/survivors-susan-pollack.

Susan was born in Hungary in 1930 and grew to understand antisemitism in her hometown from a very young age. Her family and friends suffered greatly throughout the years that followed and in May 1944, Susan and her family were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was here that she was immediately separated from her family. She was liberated in 1944 by the British Army and it is thought that "more than 50 of Susan’s relatives had been killed during the Holocaust." (www.het.org.uk)

As somebody who suffered greatly at the hands of others, she has made it her aim to educate people and ensure that those affected by the Holocaust still have a voice. The HET works to do this and to educate the young people of today on the impact that the Holocaust had on the world. 

Students in the audience and on social media were able to put their own questions to Susan creating an extremely unique and personal experience. 

History students were also honoured to welcome Tomi Komoloy, a Holocaust survivor, to the college just two weeks ago. You can read more about his visit and his story here. 

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