Survivors relive Auschwitz horror as world marks 80th anniversary of liberation
As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a group of survivors gathered in Poland to pay tribute to the victims and relive the horrors they endured during their time in the notorious concentration camp.
On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops marched into Auschwitz-Birkenau, a moment that marked the end of the camp’s brutal reign of terror, which claimed the lives of an estimated 1.1 million people, including 960,000 Jews, before it was liberated.
The survivors, now in their 80s, 90s, or older, traveled back to the camp’s former site Thursday to remember the victims and share their stories of survival.
“I am here to prove to my children and grandchildren that I am a human being, that I have a past,” said Polina, 92, who was imprisoned at Auschwitz with her husband, who was later killed in the camp. “I want to remember, to keep the memory of the people who were killed, to keep the memory of the camp alive.”
The group, led by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, held a private ceremony at the site to pay tribute to the victims, including a minute of silence, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in the women’s satellite camp, Block 9.
The survivors, some accompanied by their families, shared stories of the harsh conditions, the forced labor, the starvation, and the brutal experiments conducted on prisoners, as well as the emotions that still linger even decades later.
“I still have nightmares,” said 89-year-old Felicja. “Sometimes I wake up, and I think I’m still in the camp. But today, I’m here to show my grandchildren that I’m still strong, that I survived.”
The visitors also viewed the new “Memorial of Reconciliation” – a 10-meter high monument dedicated to the victims of Auschwitz, which features a glass and steel structure resembling a broken gate, symbolizing the promise of a new start.
This year’s anniversary coincides with a growing global surge in anti-Semitic and Holocaust-denying sentiment, prompting concerns that the world may be forgetting the lessons of history.
“It is essential that we remember,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda, who attended the ceremony. “We must remember the victims, honor their memories, and continue to stand up against hatred, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism.”
As the world marks the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, the survivors and their families remain committed to carrying the torch of memory, ensuring that the horrors of the camp will never be forgotten again.