Videos

"Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a short reportage from the opening of the travelling exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where it was presented for the first time in North America (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme’s activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

Eva Paddock and Milena Grenfell-Baines (née Fleischmann) are two Jewish sisters who lived in Prague. On 31 July 1939, they left the city on the last train organised by Nicholas Winton as part of the Kindertransport initiative to Great Britain. The journey saved their lives, sparing them the fate of hundreds of thousands of Jews who perished in the Holocaust. In this interview, given in Dublin on 26 January 2026, they tell us about the journey and their first year in Great Britain, as well as about the impact these events had on their lives.

Facts Not Fiction Serbia is part of the international Facts Not Fiction initiative, launched by EuroClio in cooperation with partners from Finland, Germany, Romania, and Serbia, including Arolsen Archives, Terraforming, and the Institute Cultural from Timișoara. The project focuses on researching and presenting local histories of individuals and groups persecuted by the Nazis and their collaborators, with the aim of making these histories accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.

The Serbian team, composed of teachers and students, concentrated on uncovering the stories of former pupils from Belgrade whose education and lives were disrupted during the Second World War. Through extensive archival research, collaboration with museums and institutions, and engagement with primary historical sources, participants reconstructed lesser-known personal histories and brought them into public awareness.

The project resulted in a series of multimedia outputs, including films, podcasts, and creative formats such as graphic narratives. Among the key works are the films “40 Names”, dedicated to students of the Third Belgrade Grammar School, and “Notes from the Margins, 1942”, focusing on students of the Fourteenth Belgrade Grammar School.

By combining rigorous historical research with contemporary storytelling approaches, Facts Not Fiction Serbia demonstrates how complex and sensitive histories can be communicated responsibly in the 21st century. The project highlights the importance of distinguishing fact from fiction while fostering critical thinking and historical awareness among younger generations.

For its quality, creativity, and the active involvement of young participants, the Serbian team was awarded an Honourable Mention in the ENRS Journalism Award.

Producer: Martina Krivokapic

Project coordinators: Maja Keskinov, Zorana Matićević

The short film ‘Righteous Diplomacy’ is dedicated to Chiune Sugihara and other diplomats who played an important role in saving thousands of Jews during the Second World War. Acting individually, or in international clandestine networks, the diplomats defied the occupiers, and sometimes even their own governments, by allowing threatened Jews to flee to third-party countries. Such was the case of Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese vice-consul in Kaunas, Lithuania. In the six weeks preceding the closure of the Japanese consulate, in September 1940, Sugihara supplied thousands of Jews with transit visas to Japan — despite the fact that his country was an ally of Nazi Germany. He might have saved up to 6,000 Jews, although the exact number is unknown. His activities were made public in 1968 by one of those whom he had saved. As a result, in 1984, he was recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” by the World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem. He is the only Japanese person, and one of around forty diplomats, to hold this honorary title.

'Righteous Diplomacy' short film is a part of educational package presenting biographies of the diplomats featured in the exhibition “Between Life and Death”:

Learn more about other educational materials: hi-storylessons.eu

Elżbieta Ficowska was born in Warsaw ghetto in 1942 to Henia and Jossel Koppel. She survived because she was smuggled to the "Aryan side" and hid from Germans by Stanisława Bussold – a 56-year-old midwife and member of the underground helping Jews. The only thing left from her Jewish parents is a little silver spoon bearing the girl's name and birth date. Her story is among those presented at the traveling exhibition "Between Life and Death".

Speech by H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski, Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations, delivered at the opening of "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions. The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Speech by Chaloka Beyani, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, delivered at the opening of "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Speech by Rafał Rogulski, Director of the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS), delivered at the opening of "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Speech by Dr Florin Abraham, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS), delivered at the opening of "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Testimony of Elżbieta Ficowska, Holocaust survivor whose story is featured in the "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" exhibition, delivered at the opening of the travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Marta Cienkowska (Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland), and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Speech by Marta Cienkowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland, delivered at the opening of "Between Life and Death. Stories of Rescue during the Holocaust" — a travelling exhibition presented for the first time in North America at the United Nations Headquarters in New York (15 January – 20 February 2026).

The opening ceremony brought together distinguished speakers, including Melissa Fleming (UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications), Chaloka Beyani (UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide), H.E. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN), Holocaust survivor Elżbieta Ficowska, and other representatives of partner institutions.

The exhibition was displayed as part of The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme's activities marking the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The exhibition was prepared in cooperation with Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN (Museum of the History of Polish Jews) and Silent Heroes Memorial Center, pays tribute to those who risked their lives to help persecuted Jews during World War II, presenting stories from over thirteen European countries and highlighting the experiences of both rescuers and survivors.

More information about the exhibition: enrs.eu/between-life-and-death

Radio documentary
Title: 'Rozette Kats – What It Means to Have Escaped the Nazis'
Author: Johanna Herzing, (Germany)


To watch the video with English subtitles, click “Watch on YouTube.”

This radio documentary tells the story of Rozette Kats – a woman who, as a baby, was hidden by a Dutch couple and given a new identity, while her family was deported and murdered.

From 1942 onwards, more than 100,000 people were deported from the Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands. Most were Jews, sent to extermination camps such as Auschwitz concentration camp and Sobibor extermination camp. Few survived.

Through Rozette’s personal story, the programme explores memory, loss, and the lasting impact of survival. After decades of silence, she found her voice, becoming an activist and advocating for empathy, remembrance, and justice.

Originally broadcast on Deutschlandfunk, this radio documentary received an Honourable Mention in the “Grand Stories: History Through Journalism” awards for its compelling storytelling and sensitive portrayal of trauma.

Documentary
Title: 'Anna of Remembrance’
Authors: Beata Rzemieniuk, Magdalena Curzydło, (Poland)

Anna of Remembrance, a documentary by Beata Rzemieniuk and Magdalena Curzydło, was awarded an Honourable Mention in the ENRS Journalism Awards 2026 in recognition of its engaging storytelling and powerful portrayal of personal commitment to preserving memory.

Anna of Remembrance is a documentary that explores the legacy of Auschwitz and the early efforts to preserve it after its liberation on 27 January 1945. Set against the historical background of the post-war years, the film traces how former prisoners and Polish authorities worked together to secure the site and establish what would become the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.

At the heart of the story is Anna Odi, the daughter of former camp prisoners who chose to remain in Oświęcim after the war. Growing up among the remnants of the camp, Anna developed a deeply personal connection to the site. Her memories of childhood, her encounters with those who helped build the museum, and her ongoing dedication to preserving its history offer a unique and intimate perspective on a place marked by tragedy.

The documentary highlights the role of individuals in safeguarding collective memory, showing how Anna has become a custodian of history: someone who knows the site intimately and continues to uncover its stories. Through her narrative, the film reflects on the importance of remembrance, education, and responsibility in passing this history on to future generations.

Recording from the webinar "Eva Paddock's Story: Rescue from the Holocaust" from 24 March 2026.

The webinar began with a short introduction delivered by the organizers, followed by the main part: a one-hour conversation with Eva Paddock. The discussion focused on education and how to start conversations with students about altruism and empathy. Eva shared her reflections on how being a Kindertransport child was not central to her identity until later in life, when her story gradually began to unfold.

Participants were invited to ask questions throughout via the chat, which were addressed during the discussion.

In the second part, Dr. Amy Williams presented the broader historical context, drawing on her expertise in Kindertransport research to frame the rescue story.

The session concluded with a presentation of teaching resources—including a timeline, video, classroom exercises, and photo gallery—followed by Stephan Rauschenbach sharing his recent, first-hand classroom experiences using these materials.

Find more resources for your lessons here.

Documentary
Title: Let’s Say Goodbye to the Night
Authors: Piet de Blaauw and Jan Pieter Tuinstra (The Netherlands)

Winner of the First Prize in the Video Category at the Grand Stories: Journalism Awards, Let’s Say Goodbye to the Night is a Dutch documentary by Piet de Blaauw and Jan Pieter Tuinstra.

The film tells a story of memory, resistance, and survival, centred on the history of Sobibor, the extermination camp in Nazi-occupied eastern Poland where approximately 170,000 Jews were murdered between May 1942 and 14 October 1943.

Created as part of Aktion Reinhard, Sobibor was designed to leave no witnesses. Yet on 14 October 1943, prisoners from across Europe organised a revolt and attempted a mass escape. Around 400 people fled the camp, about 150 reached the forest, and only around 50 survived the war.

Drawing on testimonies recorded in the 1980s by Sobibor survivor Jules Schelvis and filmmaker Dunya Breur, Let’s Say Goodbye to the Night revisits these histories through the voices of the next generations. The filmmakers meet the families of survivors in the Netherlands, the United States, Israel, Russia, and Ukraine, creating a dialogue between past and present.

Through these encounters, the documentary explores how memory is carried across generations and how the legacy of trauma, courage, and resistance continues to shape lives today. By focusing on individual stories, the film presents the prisoners of Sobibor not as victims of Nazi terror, but as people who actively sought to reclaim agency in the face of annihilation.

The Jury of the Grand Stories: Journalism Awards recognised the film for its outstanding storytelling and cinematic quality, highlighting its sensitive and powerful portrayal of individuals who chose resistance over submission.

Radio documentary
Title: 'The Longest March'
Author: Kamil Hypki, (Poland)


To watch the video with English subtitles, click “Watch on YouTube.”

The Longest March, a radio documentary by Kamil Hypki, was awarded First Prize in the ENRS Journalism Awards 2026 for outstanding critical journalism exploring lesser-known chapters of local history in Zielona Góra (formerly Grünberg).

The story begins at the Deutsche Wollenwaren Manufaktur AG in Grünberg, where from 1942 the factory used forced labour from female prisoners, mainly Jewish women deported from Poland and Hungary. On 29 January 1945, around 2,000 prisoners were divided into two groups and forced to leave the camp. One group marched until 5 May 1945, covering nearly 800 kilometres, making it the longest evacuation march of prisoners during the Second World War.

Through the voices of female survivors, witnesses, and historians, the documentary uncovers a remarkable and largely forgotten story. Based on careful archival research and the search for surviving witnesses, the programme reveals how history emerges gradually through personal testimonies, memories, and local archives.

By tracing these stories, The Longest March offers a powerful example of journalism that connects local history with broader historical reflection, reminding us how individual experiences shape our understanding of the past.

To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2026, the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity presents a short film featuring the art of Marianne Grant—an artist whose drawings, created inside German Nazi camps, became a means of survival and a powerful form of witness, preserving moments of care and humanity in the face of extreme dehumanisation.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day was designated as such by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 in order to make future generations sensitive to the tragedy of the Holocaust and so prevent in that way any future acts of genocide. The Day is commemorated on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi concentration camp, the site that witnessed the carnage of at least a million of Hungarian, Polish, French, Czech, Slovak and Greek Jews as well as those from other countries, and around a hundred twenty thousand other prisoners (Poles, Roma, Soviet captives and others). The European Network Remembrance and Solidarity wishes to be involved in activities commemorating the Day in public awareness.

In September 2025, young people from across Europe took part in the first edition of Freedom of Speech Beyond Borders, an educational project exploring the history of censorship and underground publishing during the Cold War. Through online seminars and study visits to archives in Bremen, Prague, and Maisons-Laffitte, participants engaged with samizdat and tamizdat materials, learning how independent literature and art were created and circulated despite restrictions.

Throughout the project, they worked in workshops, using creative journaling and hands-on zine-making to reflect on the stories they encountered. Their collaborative process resulted in a series of DIY publications that captured their research, insights, and personal responses to the struggle for freedom of expression.

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Learn more about the project here.

The 'Freedom of Speech Beyond Borders' project was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland within the framework of the Inspiring Culture Programme.