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Press Information published by the International Auschwitz Committee

28.07.2019

Extreme right-wing violence not restricted to Germany: remembering the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Auschwitz survivor and writer Primo Levi

 
 
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In Berlin, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, gave a statement on the development of right-wing extremism and the views of the Holocaust survivors who are remembering the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Auschwitz survivor and writer Primo Levi, who died in 1987:

"Holocaust survivors are deeply disconcerted by the new dimension and dynamics of right-wing extremism in Germany, which are substantiated through the reports by head of Germany’s security authorities. In view of ‘enemy lists’, murder and armed violence, the survivors are asking themselves, whether the majority of politicians and social actors have in fact registered this dramatically changed and threatening situation, or whether they are still dithering in stereotypical dreams of appeasement and denial.

It is against the background of these developments in Germany and many other countries in Europe that the Auschwitz survivors are now remembering their fellow death-camp sufferer and companion Primo Levi. He died in 1987 at the age of 67. The 100th anniversary of his birth was on 31 July 1919.

In his books, Primo Levi gave concrete and precise descriptions and analyses of the right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic terror of his times. The almost breathless strength of his words forms a cornerstone to the memorial he created for the countless numbers of Jewish families murdered in Auschwitz and other camps. At the same time his writings preserve the sufferings and forsakenness of the few who were saved, after having survived these camps. Primo Levi’s writings are a legacy to future generations. Above all, he was acutely aware that the anti-Semitic hatred and right-wing extremist violence, which first made Auschwitz at all possible, will continue manipulating people’s emotions and endangering democracies. And this is why his central message is awakening such a bitter aftertaste for all of the Holocaust survivors today: ‘It happened, therefore it can happen again. This is the core of what we have to say.’”

 
 
 

For further Information

Christoph Heubner

Executive Vice President
International Auschwitz Committee
Phone ++ 49 (0)30 26 39 26 81