Gordonstoun remembers its founder who fled the Nazis

Kurt Hahn, a German Jew, fled his homeland to Moray in 1933

The founder of an independent boarding school who fled his home country of Germany to escape the Holocaust has been remembered at a special service.

The Princess Royal and first minister sent their best wishes as a plaque was unveiled at Gordonstoun School to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

German Jew Kurt Hahn fled to Moray in 1933 after speaking out about the Nazis' rise to power.

Hahn, who was born in 1886 and died aged 88, founded the Elgin school in 1934.

The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the first students. Three of his children also attended the school, including the King.

On Sunday, the plaque by the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) was unveiled by Michael Flesch, who was a student at Gordonstoun.

His father was a pupil at Salem School in Southern Germany, where Hahn was headmaster before fleeing to Scotland.

Princess Anne, pictured here on a previous visit to the school, said her father would have deeply approved of the plaque

In a letter, the Princess Royal said: "This plaque will be a permanent monument, informing students, teachers and visitors of Kurt Hahn's bravery and accomplishments.

"It will serve as a reminder of how it came to be that Hahn came here to Gordonstoun, and also serves as a warning of what happens when a society succumbs to the dangers of indifference in the face of extremism and racial hatred.

"My late father, the Duke of Edinburgh, thrived during his time here and counted Kurt Hahn as a personal friend, having already benefited from his wisdom in the formative years in Germany.

"I am sure that he would have deeply approved of this unveiling."

The King - pictured here arriving at Gordonstoun on his first day - and his father both attended the school

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex.

Gordonstoun principal Peter Green said: "Our founder Kurt Hahn showed immense courage in publicly standing up to the Nazi party in the face of extreme adversity.

"Without his selfless determination, Gordonstoun would not exist today. We owe Hahn an eternal debt of gratitude for his vision in setting up a school with an educational philosophy focused on service and compassion.

"Hahn was ahead of his time in his thinking and today his memory lives on through the achievements of our wonderful students with their passion and instinct to help others, whether it's in the local community or further afield.

"Today's plaque unveiling will serve as an everlasting tribute to Hahn and his impact on education around the globe. This was a fitting initiative by the AJR which Gordonstoun is proud to support."

Holocaust 'one of the darkest periods'

First Minister John Swinney said in a letter to the AJR: "The atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish people during the Holocaust remain one of darkest periods of human history, but it is the bravery of individuals such as Mr Hahn that can inspire the rest of us to stand in solidarity against forces which seek to target the most vulnerable members of our society."

AJR trustee Frank Harding MBE came up with the idea for the plaque.

He said when Hahn fled to the UK, having been briefly imprisoned as both a Jew and a notable and prominent outspoken critic of the Nazi regime, he brought with him the "ethos and values" which made the school "a leading and inspiring institution of learning".