IT is estimated that six million Jews were brutally slaughtered during World War II as well as millions of other ethnic minorities including gypsies and the disabled.

The world - including the UK - remembers them annually on January 27, which is known as Holocaust Memorial Day. Here's what you need to know...

4 These are some of the 600 young children who managed to survive Auschwitz displaying the tattooed identification numbers on their arms Credit: X80001

Hitler's genocide, known as Shoah in Hebrew, wiped out two thirds of Europe's Jewish population - including an estimated 1.5m children.

These horrific killings, which took place between 1941 and 1945, shook the world. Few survived the attacks - Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel was among the lucky ones.

Here we explain everything you need to know about Holocaust Memorial Day.

What is Holocaust Memorial Day?

4 These train tracks at Birkenau leading up to Auschwitz 2 Credit: PA:Press Association

The focus of Holocaust Memorial Day is to remember the atrocities of the Second World War, and ensure that mankind doesn't repeat the horrific mistakes of its past.

HMB is a UK remembrance day, which we have followed since 2001. The event is also in tribute to those who died in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur - in similarly horrific genocides.

The BBC broadcast a special Holocaust edition of the Antiques Roadshow earlier this month, broadcasting powerful survivor stories.

Each year there is a theme, with a strong focus on remembrance and learning from the past. This year's theme is 'How Can Life Go On?'

As the event's organisers explain: "It’s a time for everyone to pause to remember the millions of people who have been murdered or whose lives have been changed beyond recognition during the genocides.

"On HMD we can honour the survivors of these regimes and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today.

Holocaust survivors gather for Auschwitz liberation commemoration

"HMD is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and to recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own, it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented.

"We’re fortunate here in the UK - we are not at risk of genocide. However, discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred or exclusion.

"There is still much to do to create a safer future and HMD is an opportunity to start this process.

"This is a real demonstration of how the lessons of the past can inform our lives today and ensure that everyone works together to create a safer, better future."

It is a separate event to Holocaust Remembrance Day (YomHaShoah) which will this year be held between the evening of Sunday April 23 and Monday April 24.

Pope Francis meets Holocaust survivors at Auschwitz death camp

When is Holocaust Memorial Day 2018?

Holocaust Memorial Day is held on January 27 (TODAY) every year, which falls on a Saturday in 2018.

This date, in 1945, marks the liberation of German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, by the Soviets, nearly eight months before the war officially ended.

By the time the Soviets arrived, most of the camp's prisoners had already been sent out on a death march.

Around 7,000 prisoners were still alive when the concentration camp was liberated.

4 This black and white photo shows Soviet soldiers walking with the prisoners they freed in Auschwitz Credit: X80001

In the five years it was open, roughly 1.1m people were killed at Auschwitz.

Around 90 per cent of them were Jewish, while the other victims were generally Romany, Polish and Soviet people.

One in six of the Jews killed during the war died at Auschwitz, in what the Nazis called Hitler's Final Solution.

Since 1996, January 27 has officially been remembered in Germany as the Anniversary for the Victims of National Socialism, with Italy and Poland later adopting similar memorial days.

Drone view of Auschwitz death camp

In 2005, the United Nations (UN) voted to officially commemorate the Holocaust.

Every year, more than a million tourists and local people make the trip to Auschwitz to remember those who died.

However, artist Shahak Shapira feels some of the selfie-loving tourists are less than respectful, and has shamed them by contrasting their smiling snaps with the horrors of the concentration camp back in the 40s.

4 A man on a bike rides past the snow covered Holocaust memorial in Berlin, Germany Credit: AP:Associated Press

How do we commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz?

There are thousands of events and exhibitions of remembrance held in the UK, during the week of Holocaust Memorial Day (January 23-29).

In 2016, nearly 6,000 commemorative activities took place.

Since 2005, Holocaust Memorial Day has been supported by the HMD Trust - a government funded charity.

You can find your local event on its website, and follow @HMD_UK on Twitter for more information.