Marking 80 Years Since the Liberation of Auschwitz

January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—is designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. January 27, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

As we witness an alarming rise of antisemitism around the globe, it is more important than ever for us to recognize the critical lessons of Holocaust history as we commemorate the victims and honor the survivors and liberators.

Located in German-occupied Poland, Auschwitz consisted of three camps including Birkenau, its killing center. At Auschwitz, ordinary people and skilled professionals, architects, scientists, doctors and nurses and laborers participated in designing, building and running the camp. For almost 5 years, Auschwitz operated as a work camp and a killing center. Its leadership and employees systematically murdered more than a million victims, most of whom were Jews. Trains regularly arrived at Auschwitz with transports of Jews from virtually every country in Europe occupied by or allied to Germany. 

Child survivors, Auschwitz
A group of child survivors behind a barbed wire fence at the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in southern Poland, on the day of the camp’s liberation by the Red Army, 27th January 1945. The children were dressed in adult uniforms by the Russians.
Photo by Alexander Vorontsov/Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images

In mid-January 1945, as Soviet forces approached Auschwitz, the SS began evacuating the survivors in Auschwitz and its sub camps. SS units forced nearly 60,000 prisoners on death marches, in the brutal winter conditions, with no food or water. Thousands did not survive. On January 27, 1945, 80 years ago, the Soviet army entered the Auschwitz camps and liberated the remaining seven thousand prisoners, many of whom were sick and dying. 

Auschwitz closed in January 1945 with its liberation by the Soviet army.

Map shows major death marches from Auschwitz
Major death marches from Auschwitz, January 1945
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is an opportunity to pass on the stories and lessons of the Holocaust to future generations. Auschwitz, the most iconic of the thousands of Nazi camps, is a warning to us of the power of hate and the need for all of us to speak out and stand up to hate wherever it exists. 

 First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

    -- Pastor Martin Niemoller

Additional Resource:
Video: The Auschwitz Camp Complex – USHMM: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/asset/f66022e9-c555-48db-b5be-ab329033df89.mp4