13.04.2019

100th anniversary of the Bauhaus: "Architect of mass murder" in Auschwitz

Simply by studying at the Bauhaus and encountering the creative and cosmopolitan approach of the founders and teachers in Dessau was clearly not enough to prevent this humane and artistic approach from being transformed into the opposite in later professional life. In fact it even became possible to implement the basic teachings of the Bauhaus for the crimes of the SS in Auschwitz. For instance, the Austrian architect Fritz Ertl, who was born in 1908 and studied at the Bauhaus from 1928 to 1931, rose to become deputy chief of the SS Central Planning and Construction Office in Auschwitz in... ... 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus: "Architect of mass murder" in Auschwitz

Gudrun Lehmann, head teacher of Nuthetal School

04.04.2019

Roman Kent in Potsdam: "My Dog Lala" now published in German

"Lala" has already appeared in English, Polish and French. And now the book has been published in German. Roman Kent, President of the International Auschwitz Committee, first told his children the tale as a bedtime story and later wrote it down. It tells of his moving experiences with his mongrel dog Lala in the Łódź ghetto. In the story he describes how Lala gave him courage and confidence in times of great fear and despair. Roman Kent presented his book at the Education Forum of the Potsdam City and State Library during a Presidium Meeting of the International Auschwitz Committee, which... ... Roman Kent in Potsdam: "My Dog Lala" now published in German

13.12.2018

Auschwitz survivor Noah Klieger has died in Israel

Auschwitz survivors throughout the world are saddened by the death of their friend and companion Noah Klieger who passed away today in Israel aged 92. ... Auschwitz survivor Noah Klieger has died in Israel

11.12.2018

Majdanek trial in Frankfurt am Main: outrage at court’s inaction

Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are carefully watching the Majdanek court proceedings in Frankfurt am Main. They are filled with incomprehension and growing anger by the court’s inactivity in the pending proceedings against a 90-year-old former member of the SS at Majdanek concentration camp. He is due to appear in court on charges of participating in the so-called "Aktion Erntefest" (Operation Harvest Festival). ... Majdanek trial in Frankfurt am Main: outrage at court’s inaction

10.10.2018

Gauland retracing Hitler’s tracks: the need to recognize the AfD for what it is

The Holocaust survivors are not surprised by the fact that Herr Gauland’s political twists and turns are clearly retracing Hitler’s tracks and that his worldview is digging deep into the stockpile of Nazi propaganda. ... Gauland retracing Hitler’s tracks: the need to recognize the AfD for what it is

26.09.2018

Ida Grinspan has died

The Auschwitz survivor Ida Grinspan passed away during the night of 24 September in Paris. She was 88 years old. The politician, Delphine Batho, published the ‘very sad news’ about the death ‘of her friend’ on Twitter, and paid tribute to her as an ‘outstandingly courageous personality and a lover of life’. ... Ida Grinspan has died

24.09.2018

Right-wing extremism has long since returned as an independent force within German society in the wake of the AfD

Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are watching carefully as they see their fears more than confirmed by the one-year activities of the AfD in the German Bundestag. The party has managed to place its stamp of aggressiveness and brutalisation on many debates in Germany, and at the same time has attracted even more extreme and anti-Semitic forces. ... Right-wing extremism has long since returned as an independent force within German society in the wake of the AfD

20.09.2018

On the death of the French Auschwitz survivor and film director Marceline Loridan-Ivens

It is with heavy hearts and deepest gratitude that Auschwitz survivors around the world are bidding farewell to the French-Jewish Auschwitz survivor Marceline Loridan-Ivens who, together with her father, was deported to Auschwitz in 1943 as Marceline Rosenfeld, age 15. She also survived the death march to Bergen-Belsen in January 1945. In May 1945, at the age of 17, she was liberated from the death camp of Theresienstadt Ghetto. After her return to France she began her career in filmmaking, especially as an assistant to documentary film makers. She later married the film director Joris Ivens. ... On the death of the French Auschwitz survivor and film director Marceline Loridan-Ivens

19.09.2018

Today’s EU summit in Strasbourg and refugee policies: reflecting on the values of Europe

Prior to today‘s EU summit, Auschwitz survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC) are appealing to the European heads of state and government to remember the European values which led the formerly hostile peoples into a community almost free of hatred and aggressiveness following the horrors of Auschwitz and war. ... Today’s EU summit in Strasbourg and refugee policies: reflecting on the values of Europe

16.09.2018

IAC presidium meeting in Budapest: combat the strategies of hate on a massive scale, both politically and legally

The presidium of the International Auschwitz Committee met in Budapest from 13 to 15 September. It was attended by Auschwitz survivors and representatives from Hungary, the USA, Israel, Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria and Germany. The convention began as members of the IAC met with Dr András Heisler, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary. ... IAC presidium meeting in Budapest: combat the strategies of hate on a massive scale, both politically and legally

11.09.2018

IAC Vice President Felix Kolmer honoured with the Saxon Order of Merit

Today, Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer will be awarding the Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony to 17 people in the Gallery of the Electors at the Royal Palace in Dresden. Saxony presents this award to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the people and state of Saxony in the fields of politics economics, culture, social welfare, society or voluntary work. The recipients include Professor Emeritus Dr Felix Kolmer (Prague, Czech Republic), the Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee. ... IAC Vice President Felix Kolmer honoured with the Saxon Order of Merit

08.09.2018

Anti-Semitic attack on restaurant in Chemnitz: those responsible with the police and Office for the Protection of the Consitution are overchallenged

The latest news, that a Jewish restaurant was attacked and the owner threatened during the excessive right-wing extremist violence in Chemnitz, has caused Auschwitz survivors to ask urgent new questions concerning the safety of Jewish life in Germany. It has also awakened painful memories of the suffering and persecution they were forced to experience in German towns and cities. For the survivors, the fact that it was days before the police commented publicly on this act of violence is both inacceptable and scandalous. ... Anti-Semitic attack on restaurant in Chemnitz: those responsible with the police and Office for the Protection of the Consitution are overchallenged

06.09.2018

Latest news and development of AfD: enemies of the constitution under observation

It is with increasing concern that Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are following the radicalisation of the AfD and the openly increasing collaboration between the AfD, national socialist and right-wing extremist groupings. The survivors find it particularly disturbing that in this connection the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution were surprised by this strategically planned and tightly organised development. ... Latest news and development of AfD: enemies of the constitution under observation

Young people from Poland and Germany in front of Auschwitz-Birkenau

03.09.2018

Letter for today’s concert in Chemnitz #wir sind mehr sent by young people from Germany and Poland: “Your smile is also our smile”

At the moment young Volkswagen trainees from Wolfsburg, Emden and Osnabrück are working together with Polish vocational college students and the International Auschwitz Committee at the Auschwitz Memorial for 14 days. It is in this place that they have been following and discussing the events in Chemnitz over the past few days with great interest and deep dismay. They have spontaneously decided to send the following letter to the people gathered at today’s concert #wir sind mehr (#there are more of us). ... Letter for today’s concert in Chemnitz #wir sind mehr sent by young people from Germany and Poland: “Your smile is also our smile”

31.08.2018

International Auschwitz Committee calls for immediate observation of the AfD by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution

During a working stay at the Auschwitz Memorial, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee stated:

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