Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee see the increase in anti-Semitic hatred in Germany as a historical caesura and a colossal challenge to German society.

In Germany this also includes the intermixing of age-old anti-Semitic stereotypes with the hatred of Jews which some people are bringing with them to Germany from Islamic countries and passing on to their children. In this connection Auschwitz survivors are following the current initiative of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group with great interest.

Commenting on this Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee said:

"In view of the constant poisoning of the social climate through anti-Semitism of the old and newer kind, a cross-party initiative is needed in the German parliament which convincingly unites the democratic parties. This would send out a strong signal in the present situation. It would be fatal if, particularly in the run-up to the day marking the Liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January, the impression were to be given that it is not possible to create a consensus between the democratic parties in Germany on the question of assessing the causes of anti-Semitism and combatting the consequences. In this context the Auschwitz survivors are still prepared to carry on engaging educationally and politically in talks with young people."