AN AUSTRIAN-born man whose parents and sisters were murdered in the Holocaust shared his harrowing story with students at two Bournemouth schools.

More than 350 Year 9 students at Winton College and Glenmoor School had a history lesson with a difference when they welcomed Walter Kammerling into their school.

Mr Kammerling was 14 when Germany occupied Austria in 1938. Aware of the ever-increasing threat to Jews, his parents decided to send him to Britain on the Kindertransport.

His older sister was too old to go with him and was later sent with her parents to the Theresienstadt ghetto.

All three were then deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in Septem-ber 1944, where they were murdered by Nazis.

Mr Kammerling’s visit was organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust, which works to educate young people from every ethnic background about the Holocaust and the important lessons to be learned from it.

As well as sharing his story, Mr Kammerling answered questions from pupils.

Ben Parnell, executive principal at Winton College and Glenmoor School, said: “It was a privilege for us to welcome Walter Kammerling to our school and his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced.

“We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Walter’s testimony, it will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the trust, said: “The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK, from all communities about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a survivor.

“Walter’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead.”