In Auschwitz, Poland, survivors of the infamous concentration camp gathered on Monday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation, sharing urgent warnings about the increasing antisemitism and animosity they observe in today’s society. A total of 56 survivors came together under a large tent positioned over the camp’s gate and railway tracks, marking one of the last significant gatherings of its kind, as the health and numbers of the survivors decline—many now in their late 80s. This year’s attendance fell sharply from the 200 survivors present at the 75th anniversary ceremony.
During World War II, Nazi German forces exterminated approximately 1.1 million individuals at Auschwitz, primarily targeting Jews alongside Poles, Romani people, Soviet prisoners of war, LGBTQ individuals, and others deemed undesirable according to Nazi ideology. Marian Turski, a 98-year-old survivor, called attention to the need to remember the vast numbers lost during the Holocaust, emphasizing that the living survivors represent only a fraction of the true death toll. “We have always been a tiny minority,” Turski remarked, noting the stark reality that the surviving population continues to dwindle.
The Holocaust resulted in the murder of about six million Jews across Europe, devastating two-thirds of the continent’s Jewish population. The United Nations officially recognized January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2005. Leon Weintraub, a 99-year-old survivor from Lodz, expressed concern over the growing hateful sentiments which he attributes to the surge of radical right-wing movements. After fleeing antisemitism in postwar Poland, he now sees similar patterns of intolerance in Sweden. Weintraub characterized this ideology as one that glorifies animosity and hostility towards various marginalized groups.
German leadership was notably present at the commemorative event, with both Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attending together for the first time. This demonstrates Germany’s ongoing commitment to acknowledging its past atrocities, especially in light of the escalating support for far-right political elements in recent years. Among the attendees were notable figures from various nations, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Polish President Andrzej Duda, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s King Charles III. The liberation of Auschwitz was carried out by the Red Army, which included fighters from both Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy noted the presence of enduring evil in the world in a message shared on his Telegram page ahead of the event, reflecting on the ongoing conflict his nation faces against Russia. In past years, Russian representatives featured prominently in these commemorations due to their role in liberating the camp; however, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, their attendance has been revoked, sparking frustration from Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin.
Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, addressed the assembled leaders, urging them to actively combat antisemitism, a sentiment he believes resulted in the horrors of Auschwitz. He remarked, “When the Red Army entered these gates, the world finally saw where the step-by-step progression of antisemitism leads.” Lauder further warned that although Hitler initially targeted Jews, the war ended with over 60 million lives lost and a continent in ruins. At 80 years old, Lauder acknowledged his long history of attending these memorials but expressed a realistic outlook that future events may not include him.
Another poignant account came from 86-year-old Tova Friedman, who was only five when she arrived at Auschwitz with her mother. She vividly recalled her first moments at the camp—terrified, hungry, and surrounded by despair. Now residing in the United States as a therapist and family matriarch, Friedman voiced her alarm at the reemergence of antisemitism, which she fears could undermine the safety that the U.S. once offered Jews after the war. “The world has become toxic,” she stated, underscoring her concern that unchecked hatred could lead to further devastating consequences if not addressed.
