With fewer voices remaining, Auschwitz survivors recall the horrors of their experiences, urging global leaders and the public to remember history to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities. Their testimonies serve as powerful reminders of the need for vigilance against hatred and intolerance.
Auschwitz Survivors Urge Vigilance Against Intolerance on 80th Liberation Anniversary
Auschwitz Survivors Urge Vigilance Against Intolerance on 80th Liberation Anniversary
On the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, survivors gather to share poignant memories and warn against the rise of antisemitism and intolerance.
Survivors of Auschwitz gathered at the infamous Birkenau extermination camp to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation, delivering poignant warnings as their numbers dwindle. "We were stripped of all our humanity," recounted Leon Weintraub, 99, one of the four survivors who spoke near the Death Gate. The event saw the presence of world leaders and members of European royalty, alongside 56 survivors of the genocide perpetrated by the Nazis against European Jews.
Among the speakers was Tova Friedman, who as a five-year-old girl, clung to her mother amid the horrors of the Nazi genocide. "We were victims in a moral vacuum," she recalled, underscoring the critical need for remembrance. The survivors highlighted antisemitism as a glaring indicator of intolerance, framing their memories as essential lessons for contemporary society.
From 1941 to 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau was the site of the murder of 1.1 million people, predominantly Jews, with additional victims including Polish prisoners and Roma, among others. This grim legacy was emphasized by Piotr Cywinski, director of the Auschwitz museum, who urged the importance of memory in history and societal learning. "Without memory, you have no history," he expressed, a message echoed by Polish President Andrzej Duda, who affirmed Poland’s commitment as guardians of such history.
Hours earlier, in New York, UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of the rising tides of hatred and Holocaust denial, emphasizing the moral imperative of remembrance as a proactive measure. He drew on the haunting words of Holocaust survivor Primo Levi, who documented his trauma yet ultimately succumbed to its weight.
Among the attendees were numerous European royals, including King Charles III, who laid a wreath and reflected on the significance of remembering history's evils. He described the occasion as a "profound visit," reinforcing the notion of fostering a kinder world for future generations. This sentiment resonated with 94-year-old Mala Tribich, a Polish-born survivor, who cautioned about the damaging effects of despotism on youth.
The gathering ultimately represented a pivotal moment as both a commemoration of the past and a call to action against the pernicious ideologies that threaten to repeat history. The warnings from Auschwitz survivors resonate as more than just a cry for remembrance; they are a clarion call for solidarity against the forces of hatred and division in our world today.
