'It was the most unbelievable situation - it was terrifying'

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TALKS AT INTERFAITH EVENT ON IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING PAST

- By MATHILDE GRANDJEAN

A HOLOCAUST survivor who attended an interfaith VE Day anniversary celebration at the UK’s oldest mosque has said it is “absolutely vital” that future generations remember the past.

The event, which also honoured the 1.5 million Muslim fighters who lost their lives during the Second World War, took place at the Shah Jahan Mosque, in Woking, on Sunday. Members of the Armed Forces, community leaders and members of the Muslim community were also in attendance as wreaths were laid in the Peace Garden.

John Hajdu, 88, attended the gathering to give a speech about his story of survival as a Jewish child in Hungary under Nazi rule.

Mr Hajdu, who now lives in Muswell Hill in north London, told the PA news agency: “I was invited to come because it's an interfaith event and I give talks to schools and universities and adults, and quite often to Muslim schools or Catholic schools.

“It’s absolutely vital that we all together understand what happened and we all remember what happened and we talk to each other, and then pass the message on to our children and grandchildren.”

Mr Hajdu was born in Budapest in April 1937 to a middle class Jewish family which he described as “not particularly religious”.

He was only four when Hungary entered the war allied to Nazi Germany in 1941.