The world remembered and honored the victims of the Auschwitz concentration camp on the 80th anniversary of its liberation. Eight decades have passed since Soviet troops freed the prisoners of the Nazi death camp, yet antisemitism and hatred remain global threats.
From Paris to Warsaw, political leaders commemorated the six million Jews murdered in concentration camps and acknowledged that the fight against intolerance is far from over.
For this milestone anniversary, 56 survivors were invited to Auschwitz. Together with Polish President Andrzej Duda, they laid flowers at the Wall of Death, a grim reminder of the atrocities committed there. Some survivors wore blue-and-white striped hats and scarves, symbolic of the uniforms they once wore as prisoners. The youngest among them is now over 80 years old—a stark contrast to the 200 survivors who attended the 75th anniversary just five years ago.
Nearly 50 world leaders attended the commemoration, including the Presidents of France and Germany, the King of the United Kingdom, Israel’s Minister of Education, Ukraine’s President, and others.
“This year, we will focus on the survivors and their messages,” said Pawel Sawicki, a spokesperson for the Auschwitz Museum, emphasizing that there would be no political speeches—only the voices of those who lived through the horrors.
The main ceremony took place at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most prominent and most notorious Nazi death camp, where 1.1 million people were murdered. While the majority of victims were Jewish, the Nazis also exterminated Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and LGBTQ+ individuals, by the Third Reich’s racial ideology.
Holocaust survivors continue to warn the world about the resurgence of antisemitism. Marian Turski, a Polish journalist and Holocaust survivor, noted:
“Today, we are witnessing a rise in antisemitism—this is exactly what led to the Holocaust. The language of hate has fueled wars and ethnic conflicts around the world.”
Tova Friedman, who escaped Auschwitz-Birkenau at just six years old, declared:
“We will never allow history to repeat itself.”
Another survivor, Leon Weintraub, expressed his deep pain and concern over the presence of Nazi-style uniforms in European parades, warning that history must not be rewritten or ignored.
The rise of antisemitic attacks has reached record levels in several European countries, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
As the ceremony concluded, survivors and world leaders lit candles in memory of the Holocaust’s victims, a solemn tribute to the lives lost and a reminder that the fight against hatred continues.
In 2005, the United Nations officially designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day—a day for the world to reflect on the past and remain vigilant against prejudice and intolerance.
A Warning for Future Generations
As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, the responsibility of preserving their stories falls to future generations. With antisemitism and extremism on the rise, the world must never forget what happened at Auschwitz. Only by remembering can we ensure that history never repeats itself.
