A somber ceremony at Auschwitz on the 80th anniversary of its liberation reflects dwindling survivor numbers and rising nationalism across Europe.
Commemoration at Auschwitz Marks 80 Years Since Liberation Amidst Nationalism
Commemoration at Auschwitz Marks 80 Years Since Liberation Amidst Nationalism
World leaders and survivors gather to remember the horrors of Auschwitz while facing the dark resurgence of anti-Semitism.
In southern Poland, the Auschwitz concentration camp will serve as the venue for a significant commemoration on Monday, marking 80 years since the Red Army liberated the site, where over 1.1 million individuals, predominantly Jews, tragically lost their lives. This event will see participation from more than 50 world leaders, including King Charles III, who are set to join a rapidly diminishing number of Auschwitz survivors.
As the ceremony unfolds, it will be held near a former gas chamber and crematory, echoing the painful history of the camp. The event holds greater resonance this year, not only due to the anniversary but also as a reminder of the rising nationalism and anti-Semitism taking root in Germany and other European nations. The day will commence with surviving members from that horrific past, who once numbered in the thousands, laying wreaths at the Wall of Death. This poignant location is notorious for the executions carried out by SS guards and is tragically still marked with bullet holes from those dark times.
Ronald S. Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress and chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, emphasized the significance of this anniversary given the declining number of survivors and the troubling sentiments prevalent today. He noted, "We thought the virus of anti-Semitism was dead, but it was just in hiding," reflecting a growing concern that echoes throughout society.
As the commemorative events are set to take place, fewer than 50 survivors are expected to attend, a stark decrease from the 75th anniversary attendance. Lauder lamented, “In five years, there will be very few left. And those who are still alive won’t have the energy to go.” This underlines the urgency to uphold the lesson of history, especially as the world grapples with the resurgence of divisive ideologies.
As the ceremony unfolds, it will be held near a former gas chamber and crematory, echoing the painful history of the camp. The event holds greater resonance this year, not only due to the anniversary but also as a reminder of the rising nationalism and anti-Semitism taking root in Germany and other European nations. The day will commence with surviving members from that horrific past, who once numbered in the thousands, laying wreaths at the Wall of Death. This poignant location is notorious for the executions carried out by SS guards and is tragically still marked with bullet holes from those dark times.
Ronald S. Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress and chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, emphasized the significance of this anniversary given the declining number of survivors and the troubling sentiments prevalent today. He noted, "We thought the virus of anti-Semitism was dead, but it was just in hiding," reflecting a growing concern that echoes throughout society.
As the commemorative events are set to take place, fewer than 50 survivors are expected to attend, a stark decrease from the 75th anniversary attendance. Lauder lamented, “In five years, there will be very few left. And those who are still alive won’t have the energy to go.” This underlines the urgency to uphold the lesson of history, especially as the world grapples with the resurgence of divisive ideologies.
