Survivors' Voices Ring Out at Auschwitz Commemoration 80 Years After Liberation
In a poignant nod to the past, approximately 50 survivors of the notorious Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau will return to the site on Monday to commemorate the day it was liberated nearly 80 years ago. The event marks an important milestone in the effort to preserve the memory of this tragic chapter in human history.
Among those attending are members of royalty from European nations, including King Charles and Emmanuel Macron of France, as well as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. However, it is the voices of the survivors that will be heard during the commemorations, many of whom are in their late 80s and 90s.
Jona Laks, now 94 years old, one of the oldest surviving victims, will share her harrowing account of life at Auschwitz, including her experience with Josef Mengele, notorious Nazi 'Angel of Death'. She survived not only the Lodz Ghetto but also the death march, testifying to the cruelty and brutality inflicted upon her fellow prisoners.
Her story serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the Holocaust, which saw almost 1.83 million European Jews killed, along with significant numbers of Polish prisoners, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war. It is estimated that around 70,000 gay men were also persecuted at Auschwitz.
The site remains a haunting testament to the atrocities committed during World War II. The ruins of two gas chambers and crematoria stand as a grim reminder of the Nazis' efforts to destroy evidence, while the scale of the sprawling death camp stretches out into the distance. Brick foundations of the blocks are all that remain in many areas, leaving nothing but an eerie silence.
As visitors from across the UK explore the site on weekend visits, they often express shock and disbelief at the sheer scale of humanity's capacity for destruction. Social media is filled with young people sharing their experiences, saying it is impossible to comprehend the true extent of such atrocities until physically confronting them.
The commemoration serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of Holocaust education in preventing future occurrences of such atrocities. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to give Holocaust education a 'truly national endeavour' to defend truth against those denying its significance, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding across generations.
As Jona Laks reflects on her experiences, she hopes that by sharing their stories, survivors can continue to play an important role in shaping the world's lessons from history.