World leaders, royalty and dignitaries are meeting at Auschwitz-Birkenau today to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation, but the remaining survivors and their message will remain the focus of events.
The King will be among those travelling to Poland to remember more than a million people murdered there – mostly Jews who were among around six million killed during the Holocaust by the Nazis.
The ceremony – available to watch on Sky News from 2pm – will be held in front of the infamous gates of the former concentration camp which had the words Arbeit Macht Frei, “work sets you free”, above it.
Image: Monday’s ceremony will be held near the gates of the former Nazi concentration camp. File pic: Reuters
Survivors will place a light in front of a freight train carriage – a symbol of the event.
Charles, with other heads of state and government, will lay lights in memory of those who died during the Holocaust during the Second World War.
Image: A freight train carriage is a symbol of Monday’s event at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Pic: auschwitz.org
The carriage – manufactured in Germany – represents just one part of the harrowing ordeal people endured as they were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
3:31
‘I lost 41 members of my family’
Survivors will address guests, expected to include France’s President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with the king and queen of both the Netherlands and Spain.
More on Holocaust
Related Topics:
Image: The so-called ‘Gate of Death’, the main entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau, as it looked in 1945. Pic: AP
Image: Children who were liberated from the concentration camp in 1945. Pic: AP
Later historic landmarks across the UK are lighting up in purple to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at 8pm.
In previous years the London Eye, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, St George’s Hall in Liverpool, the Blackpool Tower and Gateshead Millennium Bridge have been flooded in purple.
People are also encouraged to place candles in their windows to honour those who were killed.
The prime minister hosted a reception on Wednesday for Holocaust survivors at Downing Street and spoke about his recent trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
On 17 January Sir Keir Starmer visited the concentration camp, a place he described as “utterly harrowing”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
2:50
Auschwitz survivors pessimistic
‘Never again’ must mean ‘never again’
The UK’s main political leaders have issued statements on Holocaust Memorial Day describing the importance of being united against antisemitism.
The prime minister said: “It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to us all.
“And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make ‘never again’ finally mean what it says: never again.”
Image: The prime minister met Holocaust survivors, including Renee Salt, at a Downing Street reception on Wednesday. Pic: PA
Image: Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in January. Pic: Reuters
That view was shared by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch: “The Holocaust stands as a unique evil in human history.
“It is crucial that we learn its lessons and continue to combat antisemitism, ensuring that ‘never again’ truly means never again”.
Read more:How I escaped the train of deathI ‘cannot forgive’ GermanySurvivor fears lessons not learnt
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey pointed to genocides in the decades since the Second World War.
“We must remember, so that we try harder to stop it happening again, as it has so tragically in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and elsewhere.
“We must be vigilant in our opposition to antisemitism, hatred, discrimination and oppression, and vigilant in defence of peace, human rights – and compassion,” he said.
Image: On Sunday Pope Francis told crowds at Vatican that the horrors of the holocaust ‘must never be forgotten or denied’. Pic: Reuters
Pope warns of ‘scourge of anti-semitism’
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has warned of the “scourge of antisemitism”.
In a prayer on Sunday, the pontiff said: “The horror of the extermination of millions of Jewish people and others of different faiths during those years must never be forgotten or denied.
“I renew my appeal for everyone to work together to eradicate the scourge of antisemitism, along with every form of discrimination and religious persecution.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:31
Holocaust survivor on moment of liberation
‘We must not be complacent’
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly paused to remember the holocaust on Thursday at an event in Belfast.
Ms O’Neill said: “As we pause to remember the past, we resolve to shine a light on suffering and injustice wherever it occurs”.
Meanwhile, Ms Little-Pengelly said: “Holocaust Memorial Day reminds us that we must not be complacent in the face of prejudice”.
Source : Sky News
