Daniel’s Story: A Boy’s Life During the Holocaust

This is fiction but based on the very real experiences of millions of Jewish children.  Shown from the perspective of a teenage boy, Daniel, this animated short offers great insight into the insidious, gradual way that the lives of people can be overtaken and then destroyed.  From his comfortable pre-war existence to the horrors of Auschwitz,  we are shown how Daniel's family is overwhelmed by forces beyond their control.  Created by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, I think that this was made for a young audience in mind (it was used in an exhibition at the museum), although viewers of all ages may find some of the content distressing - unsurprising, of course, given the nature of the subject matter.  However, if you are a teacher looking for a way to make your students aware of the Shoah, then I think this is definitely a short film you should consider showing in your classroom.

It is sometimes difficult to imagine that all of this happened when my mother was a child – that this is still in living memory for so many people…

Watch Daniel’s Story: A Boy’s Life During the Holocaust below...