Auschwitz Survivors Warn of Rising antisemitism on 80th Anniversary of Liberation
Emotional Auschwitz survivors used the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation to issue a stark warning to the world: push back against rising hatred of Jews – or risk sliding into darker times. The solemn ceremony, held on January 27, 2025, brought together 56 survivors, many nearing 100 years old, alongside 50 world leaders, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Britain’s King Charles, and German chancellor Olaf Scholz. Together, they laid candles in honor of the 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, who perished at the Nazi death camp.
Originally established as a concentration camp for Polish political prisoners and soviet prisoners of war, Auschwitz was expanded in 1942 into a death camp for Jews and other minorities from across Europe. Most victims were murdered on arrival in gas chambers and cremated.
Tova Friedman, who survived Auschwitz as a six-year-old, recalled living “eye to eye with vicious camp dogs,” thinking “it was normal that, if you were a jewish child you have to die.” Speaking at the ceremony, she warned, “80 years on … the world is again in crisis. Our Jewish-Christian values have been overshadowed worldwide by prejudice, fear, suspicion and extremism, and the rampant anti-Semitism that is spreading among the nations is shocking.”
Marian Turski, a 98-year-old survivor and member of the International Auschwitz Council, echoed her concerns, stating, “We are again seeing a huge rise in anti-Semitism, precisely the anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust.”
Noam weintraub,another Polish survivor who emigrated to Sweden to avoid postwar anti-Semitism,urged vigilance against intolerance. “I implore everyone to intensify their efforts in countering the views that lead to the genocide we are commemorating today,” he said. “Especially I ask of young people: be sensitive to all expressions of intolerance or resentment towards those who are different, including skin color, religion or sexual orientation.”
The event, held in a tent erected around the landmark camp gate house, was marked by speeches from survivors, many of whom may not live to see another major anniversary. However,global tensions were unfeasible to ignore. World Jewish Council president Ronald Lauder, a major benefactor of Auschwitz memorial preservation, drew parallels between the hatred and apathy towards European Jews in the 1930s and the worldwide reaction to the October 7th, 2023, hamas-led attack on Israel, which left about 1,200 dead and resulted in 250 people being taken hostage.
“When we hear chants like ‘death to Israel’ today,” said Lauder, “what they are really saying is ‘death to western civilisation’.”
Israel’s education minister, Yoav Kisch, addressed international protests against Israel’s military operation in Gaza and demands to detain Israeli politicians on suspicion of involvement in genocide. “Genocide, this word, is now abused among other things against Israel,” Kisch said. “It is crucial we have these kinds of events to maintain knowledge and awareness.”
Czech prime minister Petr Pavel linked the palestinian death toll in Gaza, estimated at 47,000, to Hamas “using civilians in a cynical way” as human shields. Meanwhile, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola called for visits to Auschwitz to be included in the curriculum of all european schoolchildren, emphasizing the importance of understanding history to ensure “never again” remains a reality.Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed being “very moved” by the ceremony, notably by survivor warnings about the dangers of othering and excluding minority groups. “The enormity of the Holocaust is something we can never forget … nor dilute,” he said.
| Key Takeaways |
|——————–|
| 56 survivors attended the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation. |
| 1.1 million people, mostly jews, perished at Auschwitz. |
| Survivors warned of rising antisemitism and intolerance worldwide. |
| World leaders, including Volodymyr Zelenskiy and King Charles, paid tribute. |
| Calls were made for Holocaust education to be included in school curricula. |
The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the horrors of the past and the urgent need to combat hatred in the present. As survivors shared their stories, their message was clear: the fight against antisemitism and intolerance is far from over.
