Auschwitz Commemoration Marks 80 Years Amid Growing Nationalism

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, prominent global leaders join surviving victims in a poignant ceremony that underscores the troubling rise of nationalist sentiments across Europe.

In a somber gathering on January 27, 2025, more than 50 world leaders, including King Charles III, will come together with a dwindling group of Holocaust survivors in Oswiecim, Poland, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation by the Red Army. The event comes at a critical moment as nationalism is resurging in Germany and various European nations.

The commemoration is scheduled to unfold near one of the camp's gas chambers and crematoria, symbolizing the horrific legacy of a site where over 1.1 million victims, the majority of whom were Jews, lost their lives during the Nazi regime.

The day will start with a ceremony led by the few remaining survivors of Auschwitz, who will lay wreaths at the Wall of Death, a location historically significant for its grim use as an execution site by SS guards. Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress and Chairman of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation, emphasized the importance of this anniversary, especially given the reduced number of survivors and the current global climate. “We believed anti-Semitism was a thing of the past, but it appears to be resurfacing,” he noted.

With fewer than 50 survivors expected to attend, this marks a stark decline from the more than 100 who participated in the 75th anniversary celebration. Lauder pointed out the urgency of honoring these surviving witnesses, stating “In five years, very few will remain, and many current survivors may not have the strength to attend future commemorations.” This includes a pressing appeal to address the increasing instances of anti-Semitism globally, a reminder that history can repeat itself if lessons from the past are not heeded.