Tendring has marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau with solemn Holocaust memorial services in Clacton and Harwich.

Tendring District Council (TDC) hosted a Holocaust memorial service at the Sunken Rose Garden in Clacton on Monday, 27 January.

This Holocaust Memorial Day marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp – as well as the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

Harvey Newman from the Colchester and District Jewish Community led the service in Clacton.

He said: “The Holocaust was a terrible and defining episode of the 20th Century, which undoubtedly changed the course of history.

“On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides.

“More recent genocides represent a failure of humanity to learn from the Holocaust and are a reminder for all of us that we must be prepared to guard against genocide happening again in the future.”

Mr Newman was joined at the memorial by residents, councillors and TDC Chairman Dan Casey.

Councillor Casey said: “This service provides a moment of reflection to remember those murdered during the Holocaust and the millions of people killed under Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides.

“It’s very important that we remembered what happened and that we stand together against acts of genocide."

This service was the first to take place since the installation of a Holocaust Memorial Stone in September last year – facilitated by the Colchester and District Jewish Community Synagogue – to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.

Harwich Town Council and the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust hosted a Holocaust memorial service at the Kindertransport Memorial on Harwich Quay, which was attended by TDC Vice-chairman Bill Davidson.

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