STUDENTS at Stockton Sixth Form College will hear testimony from Holocaust survivor Marc Schatzberger on Thursday January 30 as part of the college’s efforts to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Pupils from the college’s partner schools will join A-level History students in reliving Marc’s story, and will take part in a Q&A session to better understand the nature of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth.

The session, organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust, will expand on students’ studies follows a recent college visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Students will also be running a series of week-long fundraising activities to raise awareness of Holocaust Memorial Day, and to raise funds for the Trust.

Joanna Bailey, principal of Stockton Sixth Form College, said: “It is a privilege for us to welcome Marc to college and we look forward to hearing his testimony at a time when our students will be working hard to raise awareness of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “Marc’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead." 

Marc Schatzberger, born in Vienna in 1926, had Jewish parents who, after Austria was annexed to Germany by Hitler in 1938, experienced ever increasing excesses against all Jews to such an extent that it became dangerous to remain in Austria.

His parents decided, for his safety, to send him to England, while they remained and ultimately were murdered at Auschwitz.

Marc, with the aid of relatives, was educated in England and completed an engineering degree before marrying and having children.