How my grandad survived the Holocaust

Events are taking place around the world to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Harry Spiro was eight years old when World War Two began in 1939. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. He was 14 when the war ended, which he says was like living "hell on earth" that "you couldn't do nothing about".

It is thought more than six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Some estimates of the total death count are at 11 million. Harry spoke with his grandson Stephen Moses about what life was like during the holocaust and how he feels more than 70 years on. Harry worked in a glass factory in the town to help support his mother, father and his sister who was two years younger than him.

In September 1942, the Germans announced that anyone who worked in the glass factory should join up outside the Synagogue for orders.

Harry says. "A few minutes later my mother asked if I'd heard what he'd said and to get ready and go out. I said I was not going - it was the first time I had a very strong argument with my mother. She was adamant, she picked me up and pushed me out. ‘That was one of the really most terrible days for me. I started crying. The only thing she said, 'Hopefully one of us will survive.’’

Years later Harry discovered his mother, father and younger sister were sent to Treblinka - an extermination camp. His family are believed to have died in a gas chamber there.