Eighty years ago today, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of one of the worst systematic crimes against humanity, was liberated.
Some are trying to erase the Holocaust from history. Some are trying to pretend that it was no big deal.
But it did happen. And it was a “big deal”: Some six million Jews were murdered, along with millions of others: Roma, homosexuals, the disabled, prisoners-of-war, political prisoners.
“Never again” and “we remember”, we are told, but it is happening over and ever again, even if on a smaller scale; and many are trying hard to make us forget.
We won’t. I won’t.
Eighty years is a long time. Very few people are alive today who have seen this hell on Earth firsthand and survived to tell the tale. But a few are still around. And there are those of us who knew people who were there. Who knew people who avoided being deported there only by the grace of God as the expression goes. (One elderly friend of mine, no longer among us, told me how he was personally saved by Raoul Wallenberg, as he was one of the lucky ones carrying a Swedish Schutzpass.) There were those who tried to help people survive. My father, I was told, was among them: forging documents for friends, for his Jewish first wife and her family members, to help them survive, avoid the ghetto, avoid the cattle cars.
“Never again” is a nice catch phrase but what if it happens again? Will we remember? Will I remember? And if I do remember, will I have the courage of my father?
I hope I’ll never have to find out.
Oświęcim, as it is called here. Extensively commemorated nowadays (though I think sadly it is partly due to political reasons) – still the topic is popular, interesting articles are published etc, etc. – e.g. just yesterday I read yet another one – about certain soviet military commander of jewish origin who lost his life participating with his troop in liberation of Oswencim.
Besides, it is one of a very few points on which public opinions in Poland and Russia still agree despite generally strained relations.
As for “Never Again” – it feels sour. Seemingly never “on such scale” but on the other hand isn’t it happening on everyday basis nowadays? Today’s news are so full of anti-immigrant moves of new US govt. Not to mention situation with Gaza where couple millions non-jews are struggling for their lives. Probably due to the latter reason memory of holocaust is marred now by the deeds of those who boast to be heirs to holocaust victims and survivors.
What do we do to help those who are suffering nowadays? Well, regretfully we mainly pretend all this is happening too geographically distant for us to care. I feel sorry. Perhaps one day I can get over my inertia and try to find some ways to help, etc.
BTW these stories mentioned – about the friend saved by Raoul Wallenberg and about your Father’s work to help his acquaintances – I’ll be thankful to read more if there is some elaboration in your blog (or could be added in future). Reading and retelling – to me are the best ways to remember.
Yes, it is happening, and it is happening in places where they really ought to know better. Hence my bitter tone.
My friend’s father was rounded up by the Arrow Cross and was about to be put in a cattle car when a foreign gentleman showed up accompanied by an ordinary policeman and asked for all those with valid Schutzpasses. It was after they were led into safety that the policeman told my friend’s father that the gentleman was a Mr. Wallenberg from the Swedish embassy. As for my father, his first wife (who passed away from illness after the war, but many years before I was born) was Jewish, so his young son was also considered Jewish, along with his business partner. Long story short, my father forged documents for them and for many others in the extended circle of family and friends, helping them escape, avoid being rounded up and deported to Auschwitz. Others were less fortunate. For instance, the father of another friend (who was a toddler at the time) was shot into the Danube by the Arrow Cross in early 1945.