About 50 survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi death camp where over a million people were killed, returned to the site to remember its liberation on January 27, 1945. These survivors, most of whom are now in their 80s and 90s, shared their stories to ensure the world never forgets the horrors of the Holocaust.

The event included heads of state like King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron, but the focus remained on the survivors. Jona Laks, 94, who survived Auschwitz, described it as a place designed solely for killing, calling it “a laboratory for death.” She and her twin sister survived only because they were chosen for experiments by Josef Mengele, a Nazi doctor infamous for his cruel medical trials on twins.

The commemorations took place under a heated tent near Birkenau’s “Death Gate,” where millions entered but never left. Survivors and Polish President Andrzej Duda laid wreaths at the “Death Wall,” where many were executed. BBC explained that Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi death camps, became a symbol of industrialized murder, with its gas chambers and crematoria operating at horrifying scales.

The Nazis began their systematic extermination of Jews in 1942, building six death camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau. Most who arrived, including women, children, and the elderly, were sent directly to the gas chambers. Survivors like Jona recounted harrowing stories of their arrival, where decisions made in seconds determined life or death.

The site still stands as a grim reminder of these atrocities. Visitors, including a group of young women from Lancashire, expressed shock at seeing the scale of the camp and the ruins of gas chambers. BBC highlighted how visiting Auschwitz can make the horror real for those who only learned about it in school, emphasizing the importance of remembering this dark chapter in history.

Concerns about rising far-right politics in Europe add urgency to these commemorations. In Germany, where the far-right party AfD is gaining support, efforts are being made to educate police and the public about the dangers of authoritarianism. Historian Susanne Willems explained to BBC that understanding history is crucial to preventing such horrors from happening again.

Italy’s most famous Auschwitz survivor, Liliana Segre, also spoke out during events in Rome. At 94, she faces ongoing antisemitic abuse, which has intensified after a documentary on her life. BBC shared how Segre, like other survivors, continues to fight for awareness despite the personal toll.

As the world marks 80 years since Auschwitz’s liberation, survivors and advocates stress that the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

The BBC report serves as a powerful reminder of the need to preserve history and stand against hate.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czj3mde43k2o

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