14.06.2018

In remembrance of first transport of Polish prisoners to Auschwitz: the IAC and trainees from Poland and Germany laid wreaths

Today Poland officially remembered the first transport of Polish prisoners to the infamous German concentration camp of Auschwitz who arrived there on 14 June 1940. Representatives from politics, churches, organizations and the families of the prisoners laid flowers and wreaths in memory of their murdered relatives. The ceremony was also attended by trainees from Volkswagen in Braunschweig and Salzgitter who had already been at the Memorial for ten days together with school students from Bierun in Poland. The young people had been carrying out preservation work to help maintain the memorial... ... In remembrance of first transport of Polish prisoners to Auschwitz: the IAC and trainees from Poland and Germany laid wreaths

07.06.2018

Rapper duo Kollegah and Farid Bang in Auschwitz: contemplative, moved and full of questions

Today, the musicians Kollegah and Farid Bang visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Their visit was in response to an invitation by the International Auschwitz Committee which they received following the fierce public debate surrounding the rappers’ texts and the Echo music award. During their tour of the remembrance sites the two musicians were accompanied by Christoph Heubner, the Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, and representatives from the Memorial. ... Rapper duo Kollegah and Farid Bang in Auschwitz: contemplative, moved and full of questions

07.06.2018

Rapper duo Kollegah and Farid Bang in Auschwitz: contemplative, moved and full of questions

Today, the musicians Kollegah and Farid Bang visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Their visit was in response to an invitation by the International Auschwitz Committee which they received following the fierce public debate surrounding the rappers’ texts and the Echo music award. During their tour of the remembrance sites the two musicians were accompanied by Christoph Heubner, the Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, and representatives from the Memorial. ... Rapper duo Kollegah and Farid Bang in Auschwitz: contemplative, moved and full of questions

25.04.2018

Kippa demonstrations: an important day, important clarity, and even a turning point

Holocaust survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are welcoming today’s gestures of solidarity towards Jewish people which will take place as Kippa demonstrations in many cities and regions throughout the country. ... Kippa demonstrations: an important day, important clarity, and even a turning point

21.04.2018

Antisemitism in Germany and Europe: wave of outrage should not become another ineffective isolated phenomenon

Auschwitz survivors are following the planned demonstration of support this Wednesday in Berlin with keen interest and sympathy in view of the increasing threat of anti-Semitism in Germany. ... Antisemitism in Germany and Europe: wave of outrage should not become another ineffective isolated phenomenon

19.04.2018

Echo: the statement by record company BMG-MGM is absolutely disgraceful

According to various press reports the record company BMG-MGM has now given its full backing to the rap duo Kollegah/Farid Bang and the publication of their album Jung, Brutal, Gutaussehend 3 (young, brutal and good looking). ... Echo: the statement by record company BMG-MGM is absolutely disgraceful

18.04.2018

Anti-Semitism - Reactions to the Echo Award: defending a steadfast democracy and the clarity of the basic law

Auschwitz survivors are grateful for and enheartened by the many responses of outrage and support following the award of the Echo music prize to the anti-Semitic rap duo Kollegah / Farid Bang with their lyrics expressing contempt not only towards former Auschwitz prisoners. They are especially moved by the response of increasing numbers of artists who have returned their Echo awards in protest. ... Anti-Semitism - Reactions to the Echo Award: defending a steadfast democracy and the clarity of the basic law

13.04.2018

Echo Prize awarded to the duo Kollegah - Farid Bang

Commenting on yesterday’s Echo award for the rap duo Kollegah-Farid Bang, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee said in Oswiecim/Auschwitz: ... Echo Prize awarded to the duo Kollegah - Farid Bang

11.04.2018

Echo participation of Kollegah/Farin Bang: a blatant insult to the survivors

Despite scrutiny by a so-called ethics council, the rapper duo Kollegah/Farin Bang are still taking part in the German Echo Awards ceremony. This is seen as a blatant insult to the survivors of the Holocaust and as a shameful affair for Germany. To the survivors it feels like a massive breach of trust that in the country that inflicted indescribable pain and physical and mental suffering on them and their families, not only in Auschwitz, people who treat this with scorn and derision should be performing and receiving awards on stage at the ‘German’ music awards: commercial interests are... ... Echo participation of Kollegah/Farin Bang: a blatant insult to the survivors

02.04.2018

ECHO nomination for Kollegah / Farid Bang: Auschwitz survivors are outraged

Auschwitz survivors in the International Auschwitz Committee are outraged by the nomination of the rap duo Kollegah/Farid Bang for the Germany’s ECHO Music Prize, despite their texts that are regularly filled with hatred and fantasies of violence. ... ECHO nomination for Kollegah / Farid Bang: Auschwitz survivors are outraged

15.03.2018

‘Because of Auschwitz’: survivors invite the new German foreign minister Heiko Maas to visit Oswiecim

Auschwitz survivors throughout the world are grateful, and impressed by one of the new German foreign minister’s first position declarations saying he entered politics “because of Auschwitz”. The survivors are offering a warm welcome to the minister to visit the Auschwitz and Birkenau Memorial as soon as possible where, together with young people, he can gain a convincing impression of the outstanding work being carried out by the Polish administration and the colleagues at the museum. These are the people who are creating the basis that meanwhile enables more than two million visitors from... ... ‘Because of Auschwitz’: survivors invite the new German foreign minister Heiko Maas to visit Oswiecim

12.03.2018

On the death of the former SS man Oskar Gröning

In Oswiecim, Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, commented on the death of Oskar Gröning, a former SS man in Auschwitz: ... On the death of the former SS man Oskar Gröning

02.02.2018

Call for Papers: "Historico-political Education" and "Psychosocial Issues"

The Federal Association Information & Advice for Survivors of Nazi Persecution (Bundesverband Information & Beratung für NS-Verfolgte e.V.) is calling for participation in two moderator-led working groups on "Historico-political Education" and "Psychosocial Issues", respectively, in relation to the work of and to working with descendants of victims of Nazi persecution. ... Call for Papers: "Historico-political Education" and "Psychosocial Issues"

25.01.2018

International Holocaust Day 2018: Auschwitz survivors issue an urgent appeal and a warning

As International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches on 27 January, the day which has been observed every year since 2005 in memory of the victims, and the day of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Auschwitz survivors are sending out a warning. ... International Holocaust Day 2018: Auschwitz survivors issue an urgent appeal and a warning

18.01.2018

The International Auschwitz Committee honours the President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen for his commitment to democracy and human rights

This year, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January, the International Auschwitz Committee will be awarding the Statue of Remembrance to the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen.

Announcements/Reports