STUDENTS met a survivor of the World War Two Nazi Holocaust to explore the grim lessons of history.

Sixth form and Year 9 students from Tavistock College heard from Holocaust survivor Janine Webber as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

The testimony was followed by a question and answer session.

The visit was part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive all year round Outreach Programme, available to schools across the UK.

Tavistock College Principal Sarah Jones said: ‘It was a privilege for us to welcome Janine Webber to our school and her testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced.

‘We hope that by hearing Janine’s testimony, it will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.’

Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, added: ‘Janine’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing her testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead.

‘At the trust, we impart the history of the Holocaust to young people, to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.’

Janine Webber was born in Lwow, Poland, in 1932. Persecution of Jews in Lwow started very quickly after its German occupation in 1941.

On hearing that there would be a Nazi raid one day, Janine, her mother, and her brother hid in a hole that had been dug under the wardrobe. The Nazis discovered the other members of her family; her father was shot and she and her brother were deported to a concentration camp.

Janine’s survival took many twists and turns and she lost further members of her family.

In 1956, Janine came to England to improve her English where she met and married her husband. Today, Janine still lives in London and regularly shares her testimony with schoolchildren.