Auschwitz survivors throughout the world are mourning the death of the French-Jewish Auschwitz survivor Simone Veil, who spoke out for them and their murdered relatives for many years.

They are contemplating this great loss with immense sadness, especially because Simone Veil was one of the great and most formative Europeans who saw it as her mission in life to build and always protect Europe as a consequence of her own experiences in Auschwitz.
 
In Berlin Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, paid his respects and said:

"After Auschwitz, Simone Veil never saw an alternative to a Europe that should be shaped through the power of tolerance and the gift of remembrance. Her accomplishments in promoting understanding between French and German people and towards building Europe were ground breaking. Her humane voice of remembrance, hope and reason by far outweighed the noise of anti-Semitic hatred, and it resounded around the globe. Auschwitz survivors expect and hope that, particularly in these times of growing intolerance and European turbulence, this outstanding woman will be honoured with a befitting European Ceremony."