Discover remarkable stories of refuge, rescue and resilience through a guided cemetery walk, expert talks and a special exhibition.
Join us at the House of Life Heritage Centre for a special afternoon exploring remarkable stories of refuge, rescue and resilience with the Wiener Holocaust Library.
Discover the history and extraordinary collections of the Wiener Holocaust Library, one of the world's most important archives documenting the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, and the remarkable story of Kitchener Camp in Sandwich, Kent, which provided sanctuary to around 4,000 Jewish men fleeing Nazi persecution in 1939.
Bringing together two distinguished speakers, a special travelling exhibition and a new volunteer led guided walk through Willesden Jewish Cemetery, this event explores the people, organisations and acts of courage and compassion that helped refugees find safety in Britain.
Our Speakers
Dr Christine Schmidt – Co-Director, Wiener Holocaust Library
Christine's research explores Holocaust documentation, survivor testimony and the history of Nazi persecution. She will introduce the Library's fascinating history, its remarkable collections and its continuing importance in preserving and sharing the experiences of those affected by the Holocaust.
Dr Clare Weissenberg – Researcher and Creator of the Kitchener Camp Project
Dr Clare Weissenberg was designer and editor of the Kitchener Camp Project – an online collaborative research endeavour, and of Leave to Land, a mobile exhibition about the Kitchener Camp rescue to Britain of thousands of German Jewish men from Nazi concentration camps just prior to the start of the Second World War. The project and the exhibition were donated to the Wiener Holocaust Library in 2019. The Kitchener Project grew from Clare’s research into her German Jewish father’s family archive of letters, documents, and photographs.
The Wiener Holocaust Library's Kitchener Camp Travelling Exhibition will be on display during the event.
Programme
1.00pm | Optional Guided Walk – Refuge and Rescue: Hidden Stories, Extraordinary Lives
Behind the headstones of Willesden Jewish Cemetery lie extraordinary stories.
Join our volunteer guides for a specially developed walk uncovering the lives of those who fled persecution, those who offered sanctuary and those who worked to save others, revealing Willesden's connections to the wider history of Jewish migration and refuge in Britain.
2.00pm | Special Talks – The Wiener Holocaust Library and Kitchener Camp
Hear from Dr Christine Schmidt and Dr Clare Weissenberg as they explore the Library's remarkable history and collections, and the extraordinary story of Kitchener Camp and the rescue of Jewish refugees in 1939.
The talks will be followed by an opportunity for questions.
Also on Display | Kitchener Camp Travelling Exhibition
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore this fascinating exhibition, curated by Dr Clare Weissenberg for the Wiener Holocaust Library, bringing to life the stories of the refugees and the efforts that enabled their rescue.
Venue
House of Life Heritage Centre
Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Beaconsfield Road, London NW10 2JE
On-site parking available.
This event is free to attend, but donations are warmly welcomed. Your support helps us continue to offer engaging events, guided walks and educational programmes, bringing Jewish history and heritage to life for everyone.
Booking essential – places are limited.
We look forward to welcoming you for this special afternoon of discovery, remembrance and reflection.
Residents of the Kitchener camp, 1939. Wiener Holocaust Library Collections