That’s why the 14th of June is celebrated in Poland as the National Remembrance Day for Victims of the German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camps. His year is already the 79th anniversary of those events. Former prisoners of concentration camps, governmental authorities and those who wanted to commemorate victims took part in the solemnization. The main part of the celebration took place in front of block 11.
First mass transport to Auschwitz
728 prisoners were sent to the emergent Auschwitz concentration camp from a prison in Tarnow. This group included members of the resistance movement, canvassers, community activists, priests and some Jews. Although the camp hadn’t been fully developed, the procedures of inmate humiliation were working perfectly. That’s what prisoners heard from Lagerführer during their first days in Auschwitz:
“There is no other way to leave the camp than through a chimney. (…) If there are some Jews in the transport, they have a right to live no longer than 2 weeks, if priests – one month, the rest – 3 months.”
Nevertheless, around 200 prisoners out of 728 survived the war. In 2018 the last prisoner from the first Auschwitz transport died. He was 96 years.
International Holocaust Memorial Day
Nowadays, we can find plenty of dates that are significant for Holocaust and Auschwitz history. However, the most important one is the International Holocaust Memorial Day. Although it’s officially celebrated by the United Nations, the whole world remembers about the 27th of January.
This date is especially important as on 27th January 1945 Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army.
Holocaust Memorial Day – Children survivors
The main objectives of International Holocaust Memorial Day are to raise the awareness and knowledge of the young generation and to prevent genocide events in the future. Although it may seem unbelievable, such a threat is always present among humans. That’s why we need to remember and improve the world’s aspirations.
In Poland, International Holocaust Memorial Day is celebrated in two crucial places. One is Warsaw at Ghetto Heroes Monument, the second is Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Oświęcim.
Holocaust Memorial Day around the World
The whole world remembers and commemorates human terror victims. However, dates are different, depending on the country. Does your country also have a fixed date for commemoration?
- Israel – 27 Nisan (April/May) – Yom HaShoah
- Austria – 5 May – Holocaust Memorial Day against Violence and Racism
- France – 16 July – Anniversary of the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup
- Germany – 27 January – Memorial Day for the Victims of National Socialism
- Italy – 27 January – Holocaust Memorial Day
- United States – April/May – Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust
- Greece – 27 January National Holocaust Memorial Day
- Netherlands – 4 May – Remembrance of the Dead
- Bułgaria – 10 March – Day of the Salvation of the Bulgarian Jews and of the Victims of the Holocaust and the Crimes against Humanity