World Marks 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation

World Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation

Global leaders and survivors gathered on Monday to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camp that has become a symbol of the Holocaust.

Around 50 survivors attended ceremonies at the site of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, where over a million people, predominantly Jews, were murdered between 1940 and 1945. The commemoration was also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Pawel Sawicki, spokesperson for the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial, emphasized the significance of hearing firsthand accounts from survivors. “This is the last milestone anniversary where we can have a group of survivors that will be visible and present at the site,” he said. “We should listen to their voices, their testimonies, their personal stories. It is something that is of enormous significance when we talk about how the memory of Auschwitz is shaped.”

President Duda addressed attendees at the camp, stating, “We Poles, on whose land the Germans built this concentration camp, are today the guardians of memory.”

Ahead of the commemoration, President Macron posted on social media, saying, “Let us fight tirelessly against antisemitism and hatred, in the name of all those who perished. Let us be the memory of their memory.”

Survivors around the world have spoken about the urgent need to preserve the memory of what happened, especially as the number of living witnesses dwindles. Many have expressed concern over rising hatred and extremism globally, warning against the dangers of history repeating itself.

In an interview with Reuters, 92-year-old Holocaust survivor Eva Szepesi shared her concerns about the current climate. “It is terrifying,” she said. “That’s why we have to do something about it in the very beginning.”

Remembrance of the atrocities committed during World War II has gained renewed importance amid a resurgence of extremist ideologies. The rise of far-right movements in various parts of the world has prompted leaders and organizations to call for increased vigilance against hate speech and discrimination.

Extremism has manifested in different forms, from attacks on democratic institutions to increases in antisemitic and other hate-motivated incidents. In response, international bodies like the United Nations have urged global action. In June 2023, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2686, calling on the international community to condemn and publicly denounce hate speech, racism, and acts of extremism.

The 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of hatred left unchecked. As survivors share their stories, the world is called upon to remember the past and to stand united against intolerance and extremism.

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