
The 80th anniversary of the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau
The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp was liberated 80 years ago, on 27 January. That day marks not only another anniversary of this event, but also since 2005, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. For millions of people around the world, Auschwitz is a symbol of the Holocaust and the horrors of war. The programme for this year's anniversary emphasised this fact emphatically.
In a huge tent, put up in front of the gate to the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp, sat guests: state delegations and representatives of many public institutions. Our Museum was represented by its director, Dr. Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska.
The opening speech was given by Marian Turski, a member of the International Auschwitz Council and an Auschwitz survivor. The main part of the ceremony was filled with speeches by other witnesses: Janina Iwańska, Tova Friedman, Leon Weintraub. They were all united by the future-oriented reflection: an appeal for vigilance and attentiveness, to take action to ensure that Auschwitz never happens again.
The second part of the ceremony featured speeches by Ronald S. Lauder, an American diplomat and philanthropist, representative of the main donors supporting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, and Piotr Cywiński, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Prayers and tributes to the victims by survivors and heads of state delegations were the final items on the programme. The ceremony was led by Marek Zając, secretary of the International Auschwitz Council.