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Monday, January 27, 2025

Auschwitz Remembered: Survivors mark liberation from former Nazi concentration camp 80 years ago | World News

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World leaders, royalty and dignitaries are meeting at Auschwitz-Birkenau today to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation, but the remaining survivors and their message will remain the focus of events.

The King will be among those travelling to Poland to remember more than a million people murdered there – mostly Jews who were among around six million killed during the Holocaust by the Nazis.

The ceremony – available to watch on Sky News from 2pm – will be held in front of the infamous gates of the former concentration camp which had the words Arbeit Macht Frei, “work sets you free”, above it.

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Monday’s ceremony will be held near the gates of the former Nazi concentration camp. File pic: Reuters

Survivors will place a light in front of a freight train carriage – a symbol of the event.

Charles, with other heads of state and government, will lay lights in memory of those who died during the Holocaust during the Second World War.

One of the symbols of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz is this a freight train car
Credit: auschwitz.org
https://www.auschwitz.org/en/train-car-symbol-of-the-event/
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A freight train carriage is a symbol of Monday’s event at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Pic: auschwitz.org

The carriage – manufactured in Germany – represents just one part of the harrowing ordeal people endured as they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

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‘I lost 41 members of my family’

Survivors will address guests, expected to include France’s President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with the king and queen of both the Netherlands and Spain.

1945 file photo of Auschwitz
Pic: AP
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The so-called ‘Gate of Death’, the main entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau, as it looked in 1945. Pic: AP

A group of children are  liberated from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1945
Pic: AP
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Children who were liberated from the concentration camp in 1945. Pic: AP

Later historic landmarks across the UK are lighting up in purple to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at 8pm.

In previous years the London Eye, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, St George’s Hall in Liverpool, the Blackpool Tower and Gateshead Millennium Bridge have been flooded in purple.

Auschwitz Anniversary promo 16x9

People are also encouraged to place candles in their windows to honour those who were killed.

The prime minister hosted a reception on Wednesday for Holocaust survivors at Downing Street and spoke about his recent trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

On 17 January Sir Keir Starmer visited the concentration camp, a place he described as “utterly harrowing”.

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Auschwitz survivors pessimistic

‘Never again’ must mean ‘never again’

The UK’s main political leaders have issued statements on Holocaust Memorial Day describing the importance of being united against antisemitism.

The prime minister said: “It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to us all.

“And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make ‘never again’ finally mean what it says: never again.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sits beside Holocaust survivor Renee Salt during a reception to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at 10 Downing Street, central London. Picture date: Wednesday January 22, 2025.
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The prime minister met Holocaust survivors, including Renee Salt, at a Downing Street reception on Wednesday. Pic: PA

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer visit the Memorial And Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, a former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, in Oswiecim, Poland January 17, 2025. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
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Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in January. Pic: Reuters

That view was shared by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch: “The Holocaust stands as a unique evil in human history.

“It is crucial that we learn its lessons and continue to combat antisemitism, ensuring that ‘never again’ truly means never again”.

Read more:
How I escaped the train of death
I ‘cannot forgive’ Germany
Survivor fears lessons not learnt

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pointed to genocides in the decades since the Second World War.

“We must remember, so that we try harder to stop it happening again, as it has so tragically in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and elsewhere.

“We must be vigilant in our opposition to antisemitism, hatred, discrimination and oppression, and vigilant in defence of peace, human rights – and compassion,” he said.

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, January 26, 2025. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
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On Sunday Pope Francis told crowds at Vatican that the horrors of the holocaust ‘must never be forgotten or denied’. Pic: Reuters

Pope warns of ‘scourge of anti-semitism’

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has warned of the “scourge of antisemitism”.

In a prayer on Sunday, the pontiff said: “The horror of the extermination of millions of Jewish people and others of different faiths during those years must never be forgotten or denied.

“I renew my appeal for everyone to work together to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism, along with every form of discrimination and religious persecution.”

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Holocaust survivor on moment of liberation

‘We must not be complacent’

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly paused to remember the holocaust on Thursday at an event in Belfast.

Ms O’Neill said: “As we pause to remember the past, we resolve to shine a light on suffering and injustice wherever it occurs”.

Meanwhile, Ms Little-Pengelly said: “Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us that we must not be complacent in the face of prejudice”.



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