This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46924619
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Holocaust victims buried after remains given to museum | Holocaust victims buried after remains given to museum |
(35 minutes later) | |
A funeral has been held for six unknown Auschwitz victims whose remains were donated to a British museum more than 20 years ago. | |
The service, the first of its kind in the UK, was held at Bushey New Cemetery, Hertfordshire. | |
The remains of five adults and at least one child were anonymously donated to the Imperial War Museum in 1997. | The remains of five adults and at least one child were anonymously donated to the Imperial War Museum in 1997. |
The victims, whose identities will never be known, were buried in a coffin with earth from Israel. | |
Six million Jews were murdered in Nazi death camps during World War Two, starved and gassed, and their remains incinerated. | Six million Jews were murdered in Nazi death camps during World War Two, starved and gassed, and their remains incinerated. |
More than a million people were killed at the Auschwitz camp in occupied Poland. | More than a million people were killed at the Auschwitz camp in occupied Poland. |
The remains were among a large number of objects relating to the Holocaust given to the museum by a donor. | The remains were among a large number of objects relating to the Holocaust given to the museum by a donor. |
The human remains were unexpectedly among them. | The human remains were unexpectedly among them. |
They are understood to have been taken by the donor during a visit to the former death camp several decades ago. | They are understood to have been taken by the donor during a visit to the former death camp several decades ago. |
The museum has a license to hold such items and the remains have been kept in storage for two decades. | The museum has a license to hold such items and the remains have been kept in storage for two decades. |
Leader of the Holocaust Galleries at the IWM, James Bulgin, said: "The museum receives thousands of objects, but something like this is unusual to the point of complete uniqueness. | Leader of the Holocaust Galleries at the IWM, James Bulgin, said: "The museum receives thousands of objects, but something like this is unusual to the point of complete uniqueness. |
"Hundreds of thousands of people were killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Anybody who lost a relative there can consider these remains and think they could belong to my grandfather or mother." | "Hundreds of thousands of people were killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Anybody who lost a relative there can consider these remains and think they could belong to my grandfather or mother." |
Mr Bulgin described the process of discovering details about the remains as "difficult", adding: "These remains are fragments and also ash and some of that can't be analysed further." | Mr Bulgin described the process of discovering details about the remains as "difficult", adding: "These remains are fragments and also ash and some of that can't be analysed further." |
Through highly specialised forensic analysis the museum was able to find out that the fragments were the human remains of adults and children. | Through highly specialised forensic analysis the museum was able to find out that the fragments were the human remains of adults and children. |
But the process is limited; their ages, gender or other personal details are impossible to learn. | But the process is limited; their ages, gender or other personal details are impossible to learn. |
'Exceptional poignancy' | 'Exceptional poignancy' |
The museum worked closely with Jewish religious leaders, and Mr Bulgin said the process of deciding what to do with the remains had been very moving. | The museum worked closely with Jewish religious leaders, and Mr Bulgin said the process of deciding what to do with the remains had been very moving. |
The UK's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the service's symbolism was enormous. | The UK's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the service's symbolism was enormous. |
"We find exceptional poignancy in the fact that there are six souls that we are burying," he said. | "We find exceptional poignancy in the fact that there are six souls that we are burying," he said. |
"Each one stands for one million souls who perished. And interestingly enough there were just under five million who were adults and just over one million who were children." | "Each one stands for one million souls who perished. And interestingly enough there were just under five million who were adults and just over one million who were children." |
Rabbi Mirvis, who is leading Sunday's prayers, said it would be one of the most difficult addresses he has ever given. | Rabbi Mirvis, who is leading Sunday's prayers, said it would be one of the most difficult addresses he has ever given. |
"There were members of my family who perished in the Holocaust and we all related to this directly," Rabbi Mirvis said. | "There were members of my family who perished in the Holocaust and we all related to this directly," Rabbi Mirvis said. |
"Now we will have the opportunity to accord them some dignity and to give them a final resting place." | "Now we will have the opportunity to accord them some dignity and to give them a final resting place." |
He said he hoped the site would become a place of pilgrimage for Jewish families, much like the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. | He said he hoped the site would become a place of pilgrimage for Jewish families, much like the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. |
But he also reflected on the memorial's timeliness for wider society, adding: "We need a strong reminder such as this to let us know what can result, even within a democratic society, what can result if anti-Semitism, if racism and xenophobia, go unchecked." | But he also reflected on the memorial's timeliness for wider society, adding: "We need a strong reminder such as this to let us know what can result, even within a democratic society, what can result if anti-Semitism, if racism and xenophobia, go unchecked." |
The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, has sent a letter of condolence to the Jewish community. | The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, has sent a letter of condolence to the Jewish community. |