WARSAW, Poland — Holocaust survivors, politicians, and citizens gathered across Europe to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, reflecting on the horrific events of Nazi Germany which claimed millions of lives.

This solemn day is observed worldwide on January 27, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most infamous Nazi death camp. The United Nations General Assembly established this annual observance in 2005 as a way to honor and remember the victims.

Memorials Across Europe

At the Auschwitz memorial site in southern Poland, where mass executions took place during World War II, former prisoners and dignitaries laid flowers and wreaths at memorials, echoing the pain of the past. Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki participated in a remembrance ceremony at Birkenau, a site of mass extermination.

In Berlin, candles flickered and white roses were placed at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This striking field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs stands proudly near the Brandenburg Gate, serving as a poignant symbol of Germany’s commitment to remembrance and reconciliation.

Commemorative Events Worldwide

In the Czech Republic, a candlelight march was held at the site of the former Nazi concentration camp Theresienstadt, where countless Jews perished or were deported to other death camps. Notably, Auschwitz saw around 1.1 million murders, predominantly of Jews, along with many Poles and Roma.

In total, roughly 6 million Jews lost their lives during the Holocaust, tragically murdered in ghettos, concentration camps, and mass shootings across Eastern Europe.

Israel observes its remembrance day, Yom HaShoah, on the anniversary of the April 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This day emphasizes the bravery of those Jewish insurgents who stood against Nazi oppression.

A Community of Survivors

This year, the Czech Parliament hosted an annual gathering for Holocaust survivors. Pavel Jelinek, a survivor from Liberec, poignantly remarked on being the last of 37 Jews who returned to his city after the war. Globally, the number of Jewish Holocaust survivors has dwindled to an estimated 196,600, and the majority are now in their late 80s.

Despite the shrinking community, many survivors are sharing their harrowing stories for the first time. In a historic address to the British Cabinet, Mala Tribich, a 95-year-old survivor, recounted her experiences during the Nazi invasion of Poland, urging the Cabinet to combat antisemitism and remember the atrocities committed.

Unity Against Antisemitism

Leaders across the globe echoed sentiments on the rising tide of antisemitism. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, warned of the dangers posed by misinformation and historical distortion. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew parallels between past and present, advocating for global unity in the face of hatred and violence.

“Whenever hatred and war threaten nations, unity that saves lives is needed,” he emphasized, urging a collective stand against oppression.

As we honor the past on this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it becomes imperative to ensure that we remember and learn from history, working toward a future free from discrimination and hatred.