Sheffield students meet Holocaust survivor

The horrors of the Holocaust were made real to students, when a concentration camp survivor visited to tell them his story.
Zigi and Jeanette Shipper at Sheffield Park AcademyZigi and Jeanette Shipper at Sheffield Park Academy
Zigi and Jeanette Shipper at Sheffield Park Academy

It was Zigi Shipper’s third visit to Sheffield Park Academy, as part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s outreach programme.

The 86-year old was born in Poland to a Jewish family, and was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944, after managing to survive in the Lodz ghetto.

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Mr Shipper told students how he was sent on a death march as the Russians advanced. In the German naval town of Neustadt the British air force attacked and liberation followed shortly afterwards.

In 1947 Mr Shipper came to the UK where he married and had a family. He shares his testimony across Britain.

Students took part in a question and answer session with their visitor to help them to understand what the Holocaust was and what lessons can be learned from history.

Park Academy’s head of humanities Alex Macintyre said: “It was a privilege for us to once again welcome Zigi Shipper to our school. As with previous visits, his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced. We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Zigi’s testimony, it will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”

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Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust added: “Zigi’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead.

“We impart the history of the Holocaust to young people, to ensure we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived. There can be no better way of learning than through the first-hand testimony of a survivor.”