On 23 January 2025, the International Auschwitz Committee held a remembrance ceremony at the Lower Saxony State Representation in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz extermination camp.

The event was broadcast live by ZDF and phoenix.

The commemoration began at 11 a.m. and was moderated by Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee. After a welcoming address by Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave the keynote speech. Mr Scholz emphasized the importance of remembrance and called for vigilance in the face of current anti-Semitism and racism.

Marian Turski, President of the International Auschwitz Committee and himself an Auschwitz survivor, was unable to attend in person for health reasons. His speech was read out by Hannah M. Lessing, Vice President of the IAC. In his speech Marian Turski recalled the horrors of the Holocaust and urgently warned about the dangers of forgetting and the resurgence of intolerance and hatred.

The memorial service was accompanied musically by the pianist Igor Levit, the Trio to Remember and the vocal duo Ana Yoffe and Ante Sladoljev.

Video recordings of the memorial ceremony can be found here:

ZDF

Phoenix

Photos of the event can be found here:

Photo gallery 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

Speech by Marian Turski on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz