Remembering Bergen-Belsen: 80 Years Since Liberation from Unspeakable Horrors

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, survivors and their families gather to honor the memories of those lost during one of the darkest periods in history, reflecting on the immense suffering experienced by thousands at the hands of the Nazis.

Eighty years have passed since the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, one of the most infamous Nazi concentration camps in northern Germany, and the day is marked with somber remembrance. On Sunday, over a thousand survivors, families, and dignitaries will gather at the camp to commemorate the lives lost and the atrocities witnessed during this grim chapter of World War II. British and Canadian forces liberated the camp in April 1945, unveiling a haunting scene of death and despair, with approximately 13,000 unburied bodies and around 60,000 emaciated survivors.

Accounts from those who were present, including British soldier Michael Bentine and BBC correspondent Richard Dimbleby, illustrate the horror they encountered. Dimbleby famously described his experience at Belsen as “the most horrible of my life,” showcasing the chilling reality that met the liberating forces. Unlike other camps such as Treblinka and Auschwitz, which had destroyed evidence of their gruesome activities, Belsen remained intact, serving as a grim testament to the human cost of Nazi atrocities with its survivors and the remnants of its horrors still present.

The camp became infamous for the cruel conditions that led to widespread suffering, as overcrowding resulted in rampant diseases and malnutrition. Notably, while Belsen lacked the gas chambers of other camps, relentless neglect and mismanagement accounted for the staggering loss of life, with an alarming number of deaths occurring even post-liberation as survivors' bodies struggled to adapt to nourishment after prolonged starvation.

Among those commemorating this significant anniversary are 180 British Jews, led by the AJEX (Jewish Military Association), alongside dignitaries like Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who will participate in wreath-laying and prayers amid memorial stones marking the graves of thousands of victims. The camp’s remaining structures were destroyed in an effort to control disease, leaving behind a visitor center and some memorials, including an inscription remembering “5,000 dead” - an enduring reminder of the lives lost and the profound impact of the Holocaust. As attendees reflect on the past, they ensure that the horrific lessons of Bergen-Belsen remain imprinted in collective memory, a commitment to never forget.