80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz: A Tribute to the Survivors and the Memory of the Holocaust

On Monday, January 27, 2025, Poland will host significant ceremonies to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a symbol of the Nazi genocide and the Holocaust. This camp, where one million Jews and over 100,000 non-Jews perished between 1940 and 1945, remains etched in collective memory. On this occasion, survivors will gather at the site, joined by 54 international delegations, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, King Charles III, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

An Emotional Ceremony in Poland with International Leaders and Survivors of the Death Camp

Earlier that morning, Emmanuel Macron will visit the Shoah Memorial in Paris, a place of remembrance where he will honor the French victims of deportation. He will also meet with Esther Sénot, one of the few surviving French deportees from the camp. At 4 p.m., he will attend the main ceremony in Poland, which will focus on the testimonies of survivors, with no political speeches. As Pawel Sawicki, spokesperson for the Auschwitz Museum, stated, “This year, we are focusing on the survivors and their message.”

The ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz hold special significance, as this could be one of the last major gatherings of survivors due to the passage of time. The Polish authorities have confirmed that they will not arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against the Israeli Prime Minister. Israel will be represented by its Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch.

A Symbol of Memory in the Face of Persistent Threats of Anti-Semitism

Meanwhile, a ceremony will be held in Drancy, France, to honor the memory of those deported through the transit camp before being sent to Auschwitz and other extermination camps. The French President emphasizes the importance of these commemorations to “repair the broken bonds,” especially with the French people, in a context where extremism and anti-Semitism remain ongoing threats.

The January 27 commemorations serve as a reminder of the importance of remembrance to prevent such atrocities from occurring again, and the essential role of survivors in passing on this message.