Berlin: The world marks a somber milestone on January 27, 2025: the 80th Auschwitz liberation anniversary of the largest Nazi concentration camp. Holocaust survivors, world leaders, and visitors gather to honor the memory of the 1.1 million lives lost in the camp and the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.
“It’s Necessary for the World to Know”
Jona Laks, 94, a Holocaust survivor, reflected on her return to Auschwitz decades after enduring its horrors as a child. “It doesn’t do any good for your heart, for your mind, for anything,” Laks shared. “But it’s necessary. It’s necessary for the world to know.”
Laks and her twin sister, Miriam, survived the inhumane medical experiments conducted by SS physician Josef Mengele. At only 12 years old, Laks was lined up for the gas chambers but was saved when her older sister intervened, insisting that the twins should not be separated.
“The suffering we endured is absolutely impossible to understand,” she said, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust as fewer survivors remain to share their stories.
Commemorations at Auschwitz
This year’s event at Auschwitz focuses on survivor testimonies. While world leaders such as King Charles of Britain, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron are attending, they will not deliver speeches. The spotlight remains on the survivors who bore witness to unimaginable atrocities.
A freight train car—a powerful symbol of the Holocaust—is placed at the camp’s main gate to honor the 420,000 Hungarian Jews deported to Auschwitz. The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum acknowledges the physical and emotional toll this commemoration can have on survivors and provides support for their attendance.
Global Reflection and Rising Antisemitism
The anniversary takes place during a concerning rise in antisemitism. A report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed a more than 400% increase in antisemitic incidents in Europe since October 2023, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The FRA found that 76% of Jewish respondents sometimes hide their identity. While 34% avoid Jewish sites or events due to safety concerns. Sirpa Rautio, FRA Director, stated, “Europe is witnessing a wave of antisemitism, partly driven by the conflict in the Middle East. This severely limits Jewish people’s ability to live in safety and with dignity.”
Importance of Holocaust Memorial Day
Designated by the United Nations in 2005, January 27 serves as International Holocaust Memorial Day. It offers an opportunity for shared remembrance and reflection on the atrocities of the Holocaust. The day also underscores the need to combat modern hate and ensure that history’s darkest chapters are never forgotten.
The Auschwitz Memorial event reminds the world of the consequences of unchecked hatred and prejudice. Survivors like Laks continue to bear witness, urging humanity to remember and learn from the past. “The world hasn’t learned its lessons,” she warned.
As survivors dwindle. Their stories become vital to teach future generations about Auschwitz’s horrors and the importance of tolerance and human rights.
