The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau serves as a crucial reminder of the Holocaust's atrocities and the ongoing risks associated with forgetting these events. With the remaining survivors' voices fading, it is essential to reflect on how the dehumanization of Jews progressed over time before the mass murder commenced. Current political trends, exemplified by right-wing parties in Germany and Italy that foster Holocaust distortion, highlight the need for critical vigilance against rising xenophobia and antisemitism, ensuring that history is shared and remembered to prevent future atrocities.
"Eighty years ago, on Jan. 27, 1945, Soviet soldiers opened the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau and uncovered unimaginable horrors. Liberation came as a bitter relief..."
"The Holocaust didn't begin with mass murder. The dehumanization of Jews progressed gradually from public exclusion to eventual internment to finally extermination."
"The time for Holocaust survivors like Turski... to share their warning is growing short. As the memories of the atrocity fade... we are witnessing a resurgence of antisemitism."
"Members of Germany's AfD actively engage in Holocaust distortion and denial. In Italy, neofascists openly give fascist salutes in public."
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