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KS3 / KS4 / GCSE History: World War Two - Interview with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Video summary

Arek Hersh, an 85-year-old concentration camp survivor, expresses his anger for what the Nazis did to him.

The war and the Holocaust destroyed 81 members of his immediate family and only his sister survived.

He talks about why it’s important for him to tell his story to others.

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Teacher Notes

Discuss with your class how events in history (such as the Holocaust), have shaped the way we live today.

What influence has it had on society, communities and relationships today?

Why is it important for these stories to be shared with new generations? What have pupils gained from learning about Arek and others’ experiences?

This topic appears in history at KS3 and KS4 / GCSE in AQA, OCR A, OCR B, EDEXCEL, EDUQAS and WJEC GCSE in England and Wales,and CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland.

It is also on the curriculum for 2nd, 3rd and 4th Level, National 4 and 5, and Higher in Scotland. It also appears in modern studies / PSHE / PDE at KS3 and KS4.

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