Holocaust Museum Excursion  

Vocational Major (VM) Literacy students were fortunate to hear Holocaust survivor Peter Gaspar share the harrowing story of his experience during World War II, hiding from the Nazi’s for 3 years and his imprisonment in the Terezin Concentration Camp. 

He was one of only 132 Jewish children to survive Terezin Concentration Camp out of the 15,000 children that were confined during World War II. 

In 1942 Peter was just five years old and living in Bratislava when his family went underground, living in secret cellars, attics, garden sheds and orchards to escape the Nazi’s. They moved in the dead of night, staying ahead of Nazi Death Squads, hidden until the end of 1944 before the Jewish family turned themselves in after Peter fell deathly ill.  

Peter and his mother were sent to Terezin, separated from his father who was sent to a Labour camp in Germany. 

‘Terezin was a holding operation, a halfway house to extermination. From Terezin every week transport vans left for extermination camps, mainly Auschwitz…you never knew how long before you were put in the van’ he said. Tens of thousands died at Terezin from starvation and malnutrition, riddled with lice and disease. 

In 1949 his family arrived in Australia to start a new life. He told our students, “Don’t ever be a bystander.  Five million Europeans stood by and let the Holocaust happen. We each have the power to make a difference in the life of another person, but we need to make the decision to up stand to evil.” 

Our VM Literacy students shared their thoughts after listening to Peter Gaspar:

“Don’t take things for granted.” Nina 

“Appreciate and treasure family and friends.” Asher 

“Not all Germans were violent, many hid and supported Jewish people.” Billy Buchanan  

“Peter is a happy kind man even though he lived through the worst moments of history.” Zoe 

“Be excited for tomorrow.” Charlie Hynes 

“There is no need to dwell on the events of yesterday, when there is always a new day and beginning tomorrow.” Kaitlyn