Born in Sieradz, Poland in 1928, Arek survived the Łódź ghetto, multiple forced labour camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau, a death march, and imprisonment in Buchenwald and Theresienstadt before being liberated in 1945. He was just 11 years old when he was first taken by the authorities, and only 17 when the war ended.

After arriving in the UK as one of the “Windermere Boys,” Arek built a new life while carrying the immense weight of loss. 81 members of his extended family were murdered during the Holocaust.

For many years, he remained silent about his experiences, before eventually sharing his story in the acclaimed memoir A Detail of History. Since then, Arek has dedicated his life to Holocaust education, speaking to thousands of students and adults about the importance of remembrance and the dangers of hatred.