On January 27, 2025, Auschwitz survivors gathered in Poland to mark a momentous milestone: 80 years since Soviet troops liberated the notorious death camp. This was the site where over 1.1 million people, mainly Jews, were murdered during World War II. Most were killed in gas chambers, but others, including Poles, Roma, Soviet POWs, and LGBTQ+ individuals, were also victims of the Nazis’ horrific ideology.
World leaders pay tribute
This anniversary, widely seen as the last major remembrance event many survivors can attend, drew a powerful crowd. World leaders such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s King Charles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Polish President Andrzej Duda, were all in attendance. They gathered not to speak, but to listen. To hear firsthand from those who lived through one of the darkest chapters of human history.
Auschwitz: a symbol of the Holocaust
The Nazi regime sought to wipe out entire groups of people, with Auschwitz serving as a grim symbol of this genocide. While the majority of those murdered were Jews, the Nazis also targeted other marginalized groups. At the camp, the horrors were beyond comprehension, with starvation, disease, and mass executions.
Exclusion of Russia: a political shift
Russia, once a central guest at these ceremonies due to its role in liberating the camp, has been excluded since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The event at Auschwitz was a solemn reminder of how the world is still reeling from this tragedy. Over 7,000 prisoners were liberated on January 27, 1945, and their survival defies belief, a powerful testament to human resilience.
Survivors share their stories
Eighty years later, Holocaust survivors like Eva Umlauf continue to speak out. Now 82, Umlauf was only 2 years old when she was liberated. She carries the number A-26,959 on her forearm—a lifelong reminder of the brutality she survived. “You are just a number,” she reflects, “but this number is not only on the skin. It’s deeper.” Umlauf’s journey to the memorial with her family is both a personal one and a responsibility to ensure that the truth is never forgotten.
The search for missing names
Though much of the world knows of Auschwitz’s horrors, countless names of the victims remain unknown. Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial center, continues to search for these lost identities. Alexander Avram, head of a team at Yad Vashem, emphasized that every name recovered is a victory against the Nazis’ attempt to erase these victims’ very existence. Yet time is running out—only about 1,000 Auschwitz survivors are still alive today.
The rise of Antisemitism: a call for remembrance
The anniversary coincides with troubling global events. Antisemitism is on the rise, fueled by recent events like the Hamas attack on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza. Hate speech is rampant, particularly online. The survivors’ voices and memories are more important than ever in this fight against hate.
Never forget: the importance of memory
As we mark 80 years since Auschwitz’s liberation, the message is clear: Never forget. The survivors are living proof of the need to remember the horrors of the past, and to prevent history from repeating itself.
