World Leaders Join Commemorations Marking 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation

On January 27, 2025, world leaders, survivors, and dignitaries gathered at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp. This solemn event, held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, served as a poignant reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and the enduring importance of preserving historical memory. The ceremony, attended by approximately 50 survivors, was widely regarded as one of the last major gatherings of Holocaust survivors, many of whom are now in their late 80s and 90s.

A Gathering of Global Leaders

The commemoration brought together an unprecedented assembly of international figures, including King Charles III of the United Kingdom, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Notably, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also attended, marking the first time both of Germany’s highest state representatives participated in the event. Their presence underscored Germany’s ongoing commitment to acknowledging its historical responsibility for the Holocaust, even amid rising far-right movements in Europe.

Russian representatives, traditionally central to the event due to the Soviet Union’s role in liberating Auschwitz in 1945, were notably absent this year. This exclusion reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Survivors Take Center Stage

In a departure from previous anniversaries, political leaders were not invited to speak. Instead, the focus was on the survivors, whose firsthand accounts of the Holocaust served as powerful testimonies to the horrors of Auschwitz. Eva Umlauf, a survivor who was only 2 years old when liberated, shared her story, emphasizing the moral responsibility to ensure that the world never forgets the crimes committed there. “They have to know that it’s true,” she said, referring to the disbelief that often surrounds the scale of the Holocaust112.

The survivors, many wearing blue-and-white striped scarves reminiscent of their prison uniforms, laid wreaths at the Death Wall, where thousands of prisoners were executed. Polish President Andrzej Duda, who also attended the ceremony, described the survivors as “the last witnesses” and emphasized Poland’s role as the “guardian of memory”.

A Symbolic Setting

The ceremony took place under a large heated tent erected over the infamous entrance gate to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, where the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Sets You Free) still hang as a grim reminder of the camp’s deceptive facade. A freight train car, symbolizing the deportation of approximately 420,000 Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz, was placed near the gate. This powerful visual underscored the industrial scale of the genocide, which claimed the lives of 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, at Auschwitz alone.

The Global Context of Rising Antisemitism

The 80th anniversary comes at a time of heightened antisemitism worldwide, fueled in part by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to a survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, antisemitic incidents in Europe have surged by over 400% since October 2023. This alarming trend has led many Jewish individuals to hide their identity or avoid public events, highlighting the urgent need for continued education and vigilance against hatred.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited Auschwitz earlier in January, emphasized the importance of Holocaust education in combating antisemitism. “Never again must mean never again,” he stated, echoing the sentiments of leaders worldwide.

Preserving Memory for Future Generations

As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, the task of preserving their stories becomes increasingly urgent. Organizations like Yad Vashem in Israel are using artificial intelligence to analyze testimonial documents and recover the names of victims whose identities remain unknown. Alexander Avram, who leads the Hall of Names project, described this effort as a “victory against the Nazis,” who sought not only to exterminate Jews but also to erase their memory.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which welcomed 1.83 million visitors in 2024, continues to play a vital role in educating the public about the Holocaust. The museum’s director, Piotr Cywiński, stressed the importance of listening to survivors’ voices while they are still able to share their stories.