International Holocaust Remembrance Day was marked across Europe on Tuesday, with survivors, politicians and ordinary citizens gathering to honor the memory of those murdered by Nazi Germany. The day, observed on Jan. 27, coincides with the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. The U.N. General Assembly first recognized the day in 2005, and it has since become an annual global commemoration.
At a Glance
- Jan. 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- Over 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz, most of them Jews.
- The Holocaust claimed the lives of 6 million Jews worldwide.
- Survivors shared their stories in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.
- The number of living survivors worldwide has fallen to 196,600.
Remembrance Across Europe
At the Auschwitz memorial in southern Poland, former prisoners laid flowers and wreaths at the wall where German forces executed thousands. President Karol Nawrocki was scheduled to join survivors for a ceremony at Birkenau, the nearby site where Jews from across Europe were exterminated in gas chambers. The event underscored the ongoing importance of remembrance in the heart of the former occupation zone.
In Berlin, candles were lit and white roses placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate. The memorial honors 6 million victims and stands as a powerful symbol of Germany’s remorse. The site has become a focal point for reflection and education in the German capital.
The Czech Republic hosted a candlelight march in the evening at the former Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt, where thousands of Jews died or were sent to Auschwitz and other death camps. The march was a tribute to the victims and a warning that the horrors of the past can never be forgotten.
Survivors Share Stories
Dr. Edith Eger spoke about her book, “The Gift,” which frames grief as a catalyst for positive change. She drew on her experience surviving Auschwitz and described her healing journey after the trauma. Her message emphasized the enduring power of resilience and the importance of sharing personal histories to keep the memory alive.
In the Czech Parliament, Holocaust survivors gathered for an annual ceremony. 90-year-old Pavel Jelinek, a survivor from Liberec-a city that once had a Jewish population of 1,350-shared that he is now the last living witness of the 37 Jews who returned to the city after the war. He urged attendees to remember that “the whole world is one narrow bridge, and what matters is not to be afraid at all.”
In London, a 95-year-old survivor addressed the British Cabinet, an unprecedented moment that Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a first. The cabinet members listened as Mala Tribich recounted the destruction of her childhood when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. She spoke of forced hard labor at age 12, the hunger and disease in the first Nazi ghetto in Piotrkow Trybunalski, and the loss of her mother, father and sister. Tribich was later sent to Ravensbrück and then to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated by the British Army in 1945. She urged the cabinet to fight antisemitism and to remember that soon there will be no eyewitnesses left.
Modern-Day Antisemitism
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that the world is witnessing the highest levels of antisemitism since the Holocaust, noting that some threats now “take new and disturbing forms.” She highlighted the misuse of AI-generated content to blur the line between fact and fiction, distort historical truth, and undermine collective memory.
Czech President Petr Pavel called the day a “call to reflect on the past and the responsibility we have as a society, but especially as individuals, in the contemporary world.” He added that even today there are people who trivialize the hateful Nazi ideology or even sympathize with it, reminding everyone that vigilance is essential.
Shrinking Survivor Community
The New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany reported that 196,600 Jewish Holocaust survivors remain alive worldwide, down from an estimated 220,000 a year earlier. Nearly all of them-97%-are child survivors born in 1928 or later. The shrinking community underscores the urgency of recording survivor testimonies before they are lost to time.
The annual gathering in the Czech Parliament highlighted this reality. Survivors like Jelinek, who now stand as the last living witnesses of their communities, emphasize the need to preserve history. Their stories serve as living evidence of the past and a warning for future generations.
Key Takeaways
- Jan. 27 remains a day of global remembrance, linking the liberation of Auschwitz to ongoing efforts to educate and prevent genocide.
- Over 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz, and the Holocaust claimed the lives of 6 million Jews worldwide.
- Survivors continue to share their experiences in public forums, ensuring that personal narratives remain part of the historical record.
- The number of living survivors has fallen sharply, with only 196,600 alive today, highlighting the importance of preserving testimony.
- Modern antisemitism has evolved, with new threats emerging from technology and political rhetoric, demanding continued vigilance and education.
