Authorities across South East London have paid tributes to mark Holocaust Memorial Day today (Wednesday, January 27).

Emergency service workers and councils across the region acknowledged the occasion in various ways as the South East of London remembered the millions of people who were imprisoned and killed under the fascist Nazi regime in Europe during the 1930s and 40s, and all those impacted by genocide. 

Holocaust Memorial Day 2021's theme is "Be a Light in the Darkness", with people observing the day encouraged to light a candle and safely display it in their window.

Metropolitan Police forces in boroughs across the South East of London encouraged residents to observe the occasion, with a number of related Twitter accounts posting the following message:

"The 27th January is #HolocaustMemorialDay

"A day we remember the 6 million Jewish lives lost and all those who lost their lives in other genocides around the world since."

Along with the emergency services, councils in South East London observed the day.

In Lewisham, an online memorial service is being held by the council from 5.30pm that is available to watch online here.

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham and Chair of the Lewisham Holocaust Memorial Committee said:

"Lewisham will always stand up against hatred and intolerance in all its forms. The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, 'be light in the darkness', is more important than ever in today’s society and one that we must all unite behind.

"We are not able to come together in person this year to mark Holocaust Memorial Day but I am delighted how everyone has worked to put together this online service.

"I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly Mark Curtis and Jason Webb from Small Nose Productions, and my fellow Holocaust Memorial Day Committee members; Reverend David Rome, Iman Shakeel Begg, Reverend Charles Pickstone, Joan Goldberg, Gerald Rose and Liane Segal.”

In Greenwich, a memorial service was held at 11am to commemorate victims of the Holocaust, featuring a number of musical and song performances to mark the occasion.

The day is observed on January 27 to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Red Army in 1945.

Before their defeat, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis sought to persecute and eliminate Jews, socialists, homosexuals, disabled people and other groups during their time in power during the 1930s and 40s.

The persecution was ramped up during the Nazi's time in power from 1933, starting with the mass imprisoning or forcing into ghettoes of people considered "undesirable" by the regime.

Before it was ended by Allied forces at the close of the Second World War in 1945, the Holocaust culminated in the mass murder of millions of people.

Some six million Jewish people were killed by the Nazis between 1941 and 1945.

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day, click here.