INSPIRATIONAL. Holocaust survivor Walter Kammerling shared his experiences with Year 11 history students from Avonbourne College, Bournemouth. Here he is pictured with some of the students who were privileged to hear his talk.
When Walter Kammerling was just 15 years-old he was forced on a journey that would save his own life but would mean he’d never see his parents or sister again.
Now 92, the Holocaust survivor shared his horrific experiences with Bournemouth students who were around the age he was when his life changed forever.
Walter, originally from Austria but now living in Bournemouth, visited Avonbourne College in the town as part of a range of talks organised by the Holocaust Education Trust.
The history students heard first-hand how Walter, witnessing the terrible brutality of the Nazis on fellow Jewish people in his home town, was able to flee to Britain through the Kindertransport scheme.
His older sister, who was 18 at the time, was also able to get a work visa for Britain but his middle sister at 17 was too young to work and too old for Kindertransport – she had to stay behind.
It was only after the war had ended and when Walter returned to Austria that he learned of the tragic fate of his family – his mother, father and sister were all murdered in Auschwitz.
Avonbourne Trust’s CEO, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “It was an honour and a privilege to welcome back Walter Kammerling to our school.
“Nothing can bring history to life than the real-life testimonies of people who have lived through it.
“What is particularly poignant is that Walter was just the same age as our students are now when his life was so cruelly changed forever.
“Walter provides a powerful reminder to us all of the horrors so many experienced and I know our students were profoundly touched by his visit.”
In addition to hearing Walter share his experience the students were given the opportunity to ask him questions.
They followed this up with a series of workshops run by the Holocaust Education Trust.
The students were asked how the Holocaust should be remembered, who was responsible and how to define the Holocaust, in which six million Jews (around two-thirds of the then European Jewish population) were killed during Hitler’s regime in the 1930s and 40s.
After Walter’s visit, Avonbourne College students wrote a letter to Walter thanking him for his valuable time.
Principal of Avonbourne College, Jason Holbrook, said: “Listening to Walter’s powerful story has educated our students more than any text book could ever achieve.
“In their letter they have told Walter how his story has made them know that however hard life can get they will fight for what they believe is right – he has inspired them to make a difference.”
Note to editors:
This is the letter Avonbourne history students have written to Walter Kammerling:
Dear Walter,
On behalf of all the history students at Avonbourne College, we want to thank you for coming in and telling us your story. We are so lucky to have had the opportunity to hear your story and what you went though at such a tragic time. You have educated us even further than what any book could do and personally, I think that in itself is such an amazing thing to do. Only holocaust survivors know what it was like and I don’t think this could be explained through any piece of text or book. Before you and the holocaust trust came in I don’t think many of us knew how much devastation the holocaust caused and how many lives it affected, but you have helped us understand that the holocaust affected so many people and to this day it still affects them now.
Walter you are such an inspirational man. You have inspired so many of us girls at Avonbourne to never give up, even when we hit hard times we still need to swim against the stream and fight for what we believe is right. You have inspired us to make a difference. We are so grateful to have met you and I hope as the years go by more people are aware of that holocaust and how much devastation it caused.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Yours sincerely
Avonbourne Year 11 history students
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