The Holocaust is a painful topic in today’s society, but for once there is some happy news regarding this horror: this past January was the 70th anniversary since the liberation of Auschwitz. January 27, 1945, was the day that the Soviets freed the Auschwitz concentration camp in southern Poland.

Around 300 survivors gathered on this anniversary at the entrance to the former concentration and extermination camp. Along with these survivors were world leaders, speaking and sharing in this day of remembrance for the whole world. Forty world leaders attended the memorial ceremony. Those who spoke included: Bronislaw Komorowski (President of the Republic of Poland), Halina Birenbaum (survivor), Kazimierz Albin (survivor), Roman Kent (survivor), Ronald S. Lauder (representing “Pillars of Remembrance), and Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywinski (Director of the Auschwitz Memorial).

Halina Birenbaum, now an Israeli poet, was deported to Auschwitz when she was 14. She said, “I answer myself- often stupefied because of what is now happening around us- that if Auschwitz could have come into being and functioned legally and unpunishedly for years, then the worst is possible.”

Kazimierz Albin was one of the first to be deported to Auschwitz in 1940. He was a Polish political prisoner. He escaped Auschwitz but his mother and sister were deported to the place he had just escaped from. Fortunately they survived the experience. He spoke about the siren that would go off every time someone would escape. “Sharp wailing of the siren was filling the prisoners with fear because of repressions, but it was also a sign of hope,” he said, “that the world will learn about Nazi crimes in KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. I heard the siren myself for the last time late in the evening on February 27, 1943, when -after my escape from Auschwitz- I was crossing the Sola river among ice floe. This sound still lies in my subconsciousness.”

Roman Kent lived in the Litzmannstadt ghetto until he was deported to Auschwitz. He now lives in America and soke about the importance of tolerance. “It is our mutual obligation,” he said, “that of survivors and national leaders, to instill in the current and future generations the understanding of what happens when virulent prejudice and hatred are allowed to flourish. We must all teach our children tolerance and understanding at home and in school For tolerance cannot be assumed… it must be taught.” His main point was to be involved and not be a spectator. Kent said, “You should never, never be a bystander.”

Ronald S. Lauder spoke as a representative of “Pillars of Remembrance,” which is a group of individual donors that are supporters of the Aushcwitz-Birkenau Foundation. He pressed for tolerance of religion and between nations. He said, “World Silence leads to Auschwitz. World indifference leads to Auschwitz. World anti-Semitism leads to Auschwitz. Do not let this happen again.”

The last person who spoke was the director of the Auschwitz Memorial, Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywinski. He thanked everyone for coming then spoke of the end of the horrors of Auschwitz. “We still cannot cope with Auschwitz as we cannot save (human) face,” he said, “at the same time consenting to hatred, contempt, anti-Semitism, and first and foremost our daily indifference. This is why Auschwitz is so frightening. Today, it no longer awakens the demons, it awakens the conscience. And this conscience- accuses each and everyone of us.”

Auschwitz concentration camp was one of the most notorious camps. Over five years, 1.1 million people were killed, the vast majority of them being Jews. The camp symbolized the development of the Nazi killers and the fear which the Nazi’s commanded over Europe during World War II. Today, Auschwitz symbolizes the horror of the Holocaust and World War II. In 2005, the United Nations declared January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

If you would like to know more please visit http://auschwitz.org/en/museum/news/