Express & Star

Holocaust horrors recalled at Wolverhampton memorial service

"We called the path in front of our barracks the 'highway to hell' because it led to the gas chambers."

Published

These words were read at yesterday's Holocaust Memorial Service in Wolverhampton, part of an emotional account of survivor Ceija Stojka, an Austrian-Romani.

Hundreds of people attended memorial services throughout the West Midlands, gathering to remember the victims of genocide and to mark 70 years since the liberation of Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Wolverhampton's service, held at the cenotaph, was attended by representatives from the council, emergency services, interfaith organisations, ex-servicemen and women, and members of the public.

Paveen Brigue, one of Interfaith Wolverhampton's vice chairwomen, said there were moments when she was reading Ceija's story that she was overcome with emotion and could not speak.

Ceija was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust and her story was just one of many told as part of the memorial day, with this year's theme 'keeping the memory alive'.

After the service, Mrs Brigue attended the Mayor's Parlour where a Statement of Commitment was signed.

The statement calls for people to remember the Holocaust, educate future generations, and recognise that everyone has a responsibility to fight the evils of discrimination, racism and xenophobia.

Memorial services were also held at St Mary's Church, Stafford, Dudley College's Great Hall, and the Highfields Register Office and Gardens in West Bromwich.

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