IWM- How did the Holocaust happen?

 

HOW DID THE HOLOCAUST HAPPEN? WATCH NOW What were the events that led up to the Holocaust? 'The Holocaust' is the name given to the mass murder of Europe's Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators during the Second World War.  Millions of people were killed, countless communities shattered and entire ways of life were destroyed.  But how did the Nazis come to power? And how did those that were part of the movement come to commit murder on such a vast scale? Hear from Head of Content for The Holocaust Galleries at IWM, James Bulgin, as he takes you inside our new galleries to explore some of the underlying causes that led to the atrocity. Watch the video now.   A COMPANION TO THE HOLOCAUST GALLERIES Written by the Head of Content for The Holocaust Galleries, The Holocaust serves to illuminate the galleries' exploration of the horrific events that took place. Featuring emotive objects and unique personal testimonies, the book examines how the course of the Second World War, as well as ideology and individual decision making, were all critical factors in the execution of the Holocaust. FIND OUT MORE       THE NEW SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE HOLOCAUST GALLERIES The Second World War and the Holocaust will soon pass out of living memory. Spanning two floors, our new galleries preserve the stories of real people from diverse communities to ensure the world never forgets what they experienced. “The real triumph of the galleries is the use of everyday items and ordinary people to tell stories.” The Times Visit the brand-new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries at IWM London to learn more about the events surrounding the Holocaust. Opening 20 October 2021.  MARK THE OPENING OF OUR NEW GALLERIES IWM IN CONVERSATION: TOTAL WAR 21 October 2021 Mark the opening of the Second World War Galleries and the launch of the accompanying book Total War: A People’s History of the Second World War. Explore the galleries, listen to an in-depth discussion and put your questions to our experts.    BOOK NOW IWM IN CONVERSATION: THE HOLOCAUST 28 October 2021 Join us for a special introduction to IWM London's brand new The Holocaust Galleries.  Over the course of 90 minutes, expert speakers will explore the approach of the galleries towards one of the darkest periods in modern history.   BOOK NOW

IWM London - The most effective V-weapon?

 

The V-1 Flying Bomb - Hitler's secret vengeance weapon. On 13 June 1944, a strange sight appeared in the early morning London sky. It looked like a short-winged plane, half on fire, and it tore through the sky at over 350 miles per hour with a distinctive buzzing engine noise. Onlookers didn’t know it yet, but they had caught a glimpse of the first Nazi Vergeltungswaffen (vengeance weapon), the V1. A few minutes later the engine cut out and the flying bomb went into a steep dive. The aircraft and its 1,800-pound warhead hit a railway bridge. It killed six people and made hundreds homeless. The V1 flying bomb was one of the most fear-inducing terror weapons of the Second World War. Thousands were killed and wounded. But alongside the civilians killed and wounded by the V1 are the forgotten victims of the vengeance weapons, the people who made them. Inside the Harz mountains in Germany, tens of thousands of slave labourers from the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp lost their lives building the tunnels where the weapons were made. The V1 is not only a symbol of Nazi attempts to fight the Second World War in innovative ways but of their greatest crime - The Holocaust. Click here to watch a video to learn more about the V1 Flying Bomb. © IWM The V1 used to hang in IWM London's iconic atrium. But now it will be suspended between the new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries, as a striking symbol of how the Holocaust and the Second World War are interconnected. IWM London’s Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries open on 20 October. Entry is free, but we recommend pre-booking a timed-slot ticket. Click here to book.   © IWM   DUXFORD BATTLE OF BRITAIN AIR SHOW Last chance to book tickets for this weekend! Witness daring air displays, dogfights, and aerobatics – ending with the splendour of our now famous mass Spitfire flypast. Entry to IWM Duxford is included in ticket prices. Advance tickets only. BOOK TICKETS         HISTORY OF BOMBS LIMITED EDITION POSTER Missed History of Bombs at IWM London? Take home a limited edition print of the full History of Bombs artwork by Ai Weiwei instead. Includes a signed certificate of authenticity.   BROWSE

IWM London - “Packs a colossal emotional punch” The Daily Telegraph

 

© IWM Joan Salter MBE sits alongside her portrait by Frederic Aranda “Packs a colossal emotional punch” The Daily Telegraph “I think it’s fantastic to show us as survivors, as people who have gone on to make our lives, and not as victims. It’s wonderful to be included and see all the other survivors and the lives they’ve made.” – Joan Salter MBE. Joan was born in Brussels in 1940 to Polish parents. The family escaped to Paris in 1941. In 1942 Joan's mother arranged for the Resistance to smuggle the family out of Paris to Lyon, in the unoccupied zone. In June 1943, Joan and her sister escaped to the USA by ship. They were reunited with their parents in 1947, long after the end of the Second World War. Joan was photographed with her husband Martin and her daughter Shelley in London by Frederic Aranda (shown above). Joan’s portrait is one of over 50 contemporary photographs of Holocaust survivors and their families by leading photographers, which shine a light on the full lives they have lived and our collective responsibility to cherish their stories. In partnership with the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), Jewish News, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and Dangoor Education, Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors is now on display at IWM London until 7 January 2022. This free exhibition showcases new works from 13 contemporary photographers, all members and Fellows of RPS, alongside photography by RPS patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. Displayed for the very first time, these powerful photographs capture the special connections between Holocaust survivors and the younger generations of their families. The systematic persecution of Europe’s Jewish population by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945 led to the mass extermination of 6 million lives. For those who survived, its memory and impact were life changing. © IWM Visitors explore Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors. “I was delighted to see my portrait here in the exhibition, it means a lot to me, it brings back lots of memories of my life, both under the Nazi occupation and under the Soviet regime and my life in this country. It’s a wonderful way of remembering and will help people coming to this exhibition to know what we’ve gone through and to remind everybody that these atrocities must not carry on and must not happen again.” – John Hajdu MBE John, photographed by Jillian Edelstein, was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1937. In 1944 his mother was removed to a concentration camp. He survived the horrific conditions of the Budapest ghetto and was freed by the Soviet army. He moved to Vienna where he queued outside the British embassy for hours to get permission to emigrate to the UK. He arrived in England in 1957 where he worked in the hotel and tourism industry. He married and has one daughter, one son and four grandchildren. Through a collection of individual and family portraits, the moving photographs in this exhibition present survivors who made the UK their home after beginnings marked by unimaginable loss and trauma. Offering a space to remember and share their stories, these portraits are a celebration of the rich lives they have lived and the special legacy which their children and grandchildren will carry into the future. Click here to read more about Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors and book your free ticket today.   © IWM   9/11 TWENTY YEARS ON This September, we'll be marking 20 years since the 9/11 terror attacks and exploring their global legacy in 9/11 Twenty Years On. Powerful large-scale photographs by photographer and filmmaker Wim Wenders will be showcased in an exhibition at IWM London, and a special bonus episode of our podcast Conflict of Interest will be released. Plus, we want to hear your memories of 11 September 2001 and how its consequences have impacted your life. FIND OUT MORE         © IWM   TEN MINUTE TALKS POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS Selected dates, see website for more information. Join our volunteers for free short talks at IWM London throughout the summer. From Architecture to Queer Histories to Wartime Aviation, these introductory talks will focus on the lesser heard histories, items and key figures, to showcase diversity in our collections. PLAN A VISIT

IWM - One incredible moment of bravery

Sergeant Norman Jackson served as a flight engineer for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his brave actions during an attack on his Lancaster bomber, whilst on a mission in Germany.   At the outbreak of the Second World War, Norman was working as a qualified fitter and volunteered for the RAF.   He served as ground crew in West Africa, before joining 106 Squadron as a flight engineer in July 1943. By April 1944 he had completed 30 bombing missions and was due to return home. However, on 26 April 1944, Norman decided to join his regular crew on one last operation. After bombing a factory in Schweinfurt, central Germany, Norman’s Lancaster bomber was attacked by a German night fighter. He was wounded and the bomber’s right wing caught fire, blazing dangerously close to the fuel tank.

Curator Tour: Life on the Lancaster Join IWM’s Head of Second World War, John Delaney, as he tells the stories of the IWM’s Lancaster fuselage on display in the museum’s atrium. For the first time guests will have the exciting opportunity to view accompanying items from the museum’s archive as part of this exclusive tour experience. Join the tour

As the flight engineer, and the most experienced man onboard, Norman felt it was his job to tackle the fire. He strapped on a parachute, grabbed a fire extinguisher and climbed out onto the wing, 6,000 metres above the ground.  Battling against fierce winds, Norman used a fire extinguisher to tackle the fire and managed to get it under control. The German night fighter then launched another attack, hitting Norman in the legs. He fell from the wing, plummeting towards earth with his parachute burning. He survived the fall, but was badly injured and soon captured by Germans on the ground. Four other members of the bomber crew survived but two were lost.   Norman spent ten months in a German hospital with a broken ankle and a badly burned eye and hands. He never fully recovered. When he returned home he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Become a Documentary Filmmaker Which stories within IWM's collection deserve more attention? Join documentary filmmakers from SMASH TV, who will teach you how to make and feature in your own mini-documentary, ready for you to download and take home.  Lights, Camera, ACTION!