A group of survivors of Nazi death camps came together to mark the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II in a modest ceremony in southern Poland. Survivors from various camps set up by Nazi Germany around Europe gathered to pay their respects and honor the memory of the victims.

Approximately 20 survivors participated in the ceremony, laying wreaths and flowers and lighting candles at the Death Wall in Auschwitz, where thousands of inmates were executed, mainly Polish resistance members. The group later moved to a brick women's barrack at Birkenau that has recently undergone conservation, where they prayed and lit candles at the monument near the crematoria ruins. The ceremony aimed to remember the 1.1 million camp victims, mostly Jews.

The commemorative event took place near the city of Oswiecim, where the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site and museum are located. Similar observances were also held in several other countries. The Holocaust remains a dark chapter in history, as nearly 6 million European Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day was marked by survivors, accompanied by Polish Senate Speaker Malgorzata Kidawa-Blonska, Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, and Israeli Ambassador Yacov Livne. The theme of the observances highlighted the human being, symbolized by simple hand-drawn portraits that were displayed on a screen during the ceremony. These portraits aimed to emphasize the suffering endured by those held and killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his country's commitment to carrying the responsibility for the "crime against humanity" that was the Holocaust. He called on all citizens to defend Germany's democracy and fight against antisemitism as the nation commemorated the anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and had relatives lost in the Holocaust, honored the day by posting an image of a Jewish menorah. He stressed the importance of every generation learning the truth about the Holocaust and reminded the world that human life must always be valued.

In Italy, Holocaust commemorations included a torchlit procession and official statements from top political leaders. Premier Giorgia Meloni stated that her government remains committed to eradicating antisemitism, which she believes has been rejuvenated during the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. The Jewish community in Italy expressed concerns about the co-opting of Holocaust remembrances by anti-Israel forces during protests.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jews and Muslims gathered in Srebrenica to jointly observe Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event aimed to promote compassion and dialogue in the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The commemoration was organized by a center dedicated to preserving the memory of the Srebrenica massacre, the only acknowledged genocide in Europe since the Holocaust.

The international Holocaust Remembrance Day holds significant importance, according to Menachem Rosensaft, a law professor and the son of Holocaust survivors. As time goes on, it becomes crucial to ensure that the world does not forget the Holocaust and its atrocities, even after the survivors and their descendants are no longer present.

Earlier in the week, an agreement was signed by several nations from the former Yugoslavia to jointly renovate Block 17 in Auschwitz and create a permanent exhibition in memory of the 20,000 individuals who were deported from their territories to the block. This project will involve Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Preserving the camp requires ongoing efforts by historians and experts, as well as substantial funds. The notorious Auschwitz gate, with its deceptive slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work Sets You Free"), stands as a grim reminder of the horrors that occurred within its confines.

With each passing year, the survivors and the global community are determined not to let the world forget the Holocaust. By commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day, they ensure that the memory of this dark period in history endures as a conscience for the world.