Still from the Soviet film on the liberation of Auschwitz, recorded by the film crew of the First Ukrainian Front. Surviving children of Auschwitz stand behind a barbed wire fence wearing adult-size prisoner uniforms. Shown here in this picture: Tomasz Szwarz; Alicja Gruenbaum; Solomon Rozalin; Gita Sztrauss; Wiera Sadler; Marta Wiess; Boro Eksztein; Josef Rozenwaser; Rafael Szlezinger; Gabriel Nejman; Adek Apfelbaum; Hillik (later Harold) Apfelbaum; Mark Berkowitz (a twin); Pesa Balter; Rut Muszkies (later Webber); Miriam Friedman; and the twins Miriam Mozes and Eva Mozes with knitted hats. Author: Alexander Voronzov and others from his group, commissioned by Mikhail Oshurkov, head of the photographic unit of the First Ukrainian Front. Copyright: in the public domain of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, with kind permission from the Belarusian State Archives of Films, Photographs and Sound Recordings, via Wikimedia. Colouring: KGS/IAK Berlin
In Berlin Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee made the following statement about tomorrow’s 79th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz:
“Tomorrow’s remembrance day is a day of mourning, deep concern and outrage for the survivors of Auschwitz.
To them this day is not only dedicated to remembering their murdered family members. At the same time they are acutely aware that inhuman and anti-Semitic hatred is once again spreading in many European countries, and that it is all too often poisoning the minds, especially of young people. For far too long people in Europe have allowed the extreme right-wing networks of conspiracy liars and rabble rousers to flourish while vastly underestimating the threat to the constitutional state. All of the ideas and groupings that destroyed Europe and led to the catastrophe of Auschwitz are now operating under the protection of democracy while at the same time propagating its destruction.
For the survivors, this not only awakens memories of the beginnings of their persecution. It also makes them look with deep concern at the future of young people and that of the democracies in Europe. It is for this reason in particular that the survivors are grateful to the hundreds of thousands who are standing up now, insisting that we shall never forget, and who have understood that democracy now needs them as defenders and promoters. They are also grateful to all those who are standing up against hatred towards Israel, the country that has become home to many of them, together with their newly established families.”