Liberation80: Pellegrini Meets Survivors of Auschwitz Death Camp at Site

Auschwitz/Bratislava, January 28 (TASR) - It's only a small step from hatred to a repeat of the terrible events of 80 years ago, said President Peter Pellegrini following a commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp on Monday (January 27). "I had the honour of meeting two survivors from Slovakia: Mrs. Eva Umlauf, who lives in Germany, and Mr. Naftali Furst, who lives in Israel. Both of them survived the horror of Auschwitz, and today I had an opportunity to shake their hands on behalf of all of us and pay my respects and tribute to what they had to go through in their lives," said Pellegrini. According to the president, the tragic events were started by hatred of race and people, feelings of superiority and the idea that some people mean more and some people mean less. This hatred gradually gained strength, eventually leading to the murders of people at Auschwitz and in many other locations on the European continent, he said. At the same time, Pellegrini called for hatred not to become a part of people's lives. "Let's not tolerate any manifestations of hatred, let's not stand by silently when someone incites or encourages hatred because it's just a small step from hatred to repeating such terrible events as those that happened in this place 80 years ago," added the president. The commemorative event to mark the death camp's liberation was attended by members of royal families, presidents and premiers of some 50 countries. The camp was set up by the Nazis in 1940 and was originally intended for Polish prisoners of war, but it was gradually expanded. Soldiers of the Soviet Army liberated it on January 27, 1945. The UN General Assembly declared that this day would become International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Since 1979, the complex has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It also includes the Slovak national exhibition, which has been organised under the auspices of the Slovak president since 2024. ko/df