Holocaust Memorial Day is an international event that takes place every year on 27 January to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Holocaust Memorial Day was founded 23 years ago, when 46 governments committed to preserving the memory of those who died in the Holocaust. It is a day when we remember those who lost their lives during those dark times and subsequent genocides around the world and we tell their stories to make sure they are never forgotten. But it is also a day when we look at our world today and the world we want it to be in the years ahead.                   

Coventry marks Holocaust Memorial Day with a free event every year.

The theme for this year in Coventry is Ordinary People.

Venue: St Mary’s Guildhall, Bayley Lane, CV1 5NR

Time: Arrival 12.30 for 1pm start

• Music performed by Coventry Music – Brass quintet
• Welcome by Cllr Abdul Salam Khan – Deputy Leader, Coventry City Council
• The Lord Mayor of Coventry –   Councillor Kevin Maton
• Speaker – John Fieldsend – holocaust survivor and Kinder transport child. Read about John’s life
• Voice Squad – Coventry City Council Choir
• Speaker – Ukrainian reading – Dr Andrij Ilchychyn speaking about Holodomor
• Poems from Eden Girls School
• Bianca Andrei  talks about her visit to Auschwitz – Bianca is Coventry University Student Union Education Officer
• Lighting of the Candle and Final words from Cllr Abdul Salam Khan – Deputy Leader Coventry City Council
• Short break with music performed by Coventry Music – Brass quintet
• Question and answer session with John Fieldsend and Dr Andrij Ilchychyn (approx 45 mins)

More information on Holocaust Memorial Day.

The international theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is “Home and Belonging”. See this page for more about this.