Live Holocaust Survivor Webcast

As part of the Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations, all Year 9, 10 and 11 students were given access to a live webcast of survivor, Eve Kugler BEM, organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Students watched live as Mrs Kugler shared details of her incredible life, from her upbringing in Nazi Germany, to persecution in France and her eventual escape to America. 

Year 10 student, Charley Lygo has written a very thoughtful review of this memorable experience:

At 10 o’clock this morning, our school and 800 others, were invited to watch the Holocaust survivor webcast. Eve Kugler answered questions from a broadcaster, such as “When did you first lose your parents?” She answered clearly and honestly, “I was ten years old when my father first was taken to the concentration camps, and my mother to work camps.” These questions were interesting and provoked deep emotion for all viewers.  I cannot imagine going through what she endured in the 1940s. The call lasted an hour, each minute filled with heart-breaking and emotional stories of how they survived. We were told of the story of when Eve and her parents reunited. It was not emotional, but numb. They were all too traumatised to feel any excitement. Eve also told stories of Kristallnacht and how she was sheltered from the distress of all the destruction by guards, who shoved her and her sisters back into their house. The camps she spoke of froze, starved and overworked her and her family, so much so, that we can only imagine the pain they went through all those years ago. This may be one of the last times a survivor is broadcasted, so I recommend anybody who is able to, to find the stream and watch it through.

Despite experiencing such trauma as a young girl, Mrs Kugler showed incredible resilience to go on to earn a degree from the University of Pennsylvania, before becoming a well-respected journalist.  I am confident that all students and staff in attendance found Mrs Kugler’s live testimony informative and inspiring.

Mr Herbert, Curriculum Leader for History

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