Teacher's Resource Pack

Martin and Erica’s Journey

Published by the National Union of Teachers and the Holocaust Educational Trust, Martin and Erica’s Journey tells the story of Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor, and his sister Erica. Martin recounts the journey he and his sister were forced to make through Europe during the Second World War. Martin was a young child when the German Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940 and both he and Erica went on to survive the Westerbork transit camp and the Theresienstadt ghetto, in the then Czecholsolvakia. On liberation, Martin and his sister returned to the Netherlands for a short while before moving to the UK to join family who had themselves previously fled Europe to escape Nazi persecution. Martin grew up to become a hospital doctor and today still lives in the UK, while his sister became a psychologist and went on to work in a Dutch university. Erica passed away in 2007.

The publication focuses on Martin’s testimony and provides a human perspective of this catastrophic period of history. The language and content are appropriate for Year 6 students upwards. Martin provides moving descriptions of those adults who put their own lives at risk to help him and his younger sister, as well as providing details of his early life. Notes for teachers have also been produced by the Holocaust Educational Trust to accompany the publication.

Complimentary copies of Martin and Erica’s Journey are available from the Trust. To order please email info@het.org.uk and include your name, job title, school name and school address. Please also state how many copies you require.

To download a copy of the resource and teachers' notes please click on the links below

Martin and Erica's Journey

Notes for Teachers