Commemoration of Ravensbrück Concentration Camp Liberation: Call to Combat Hate and Racism

During a memorial event marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Ravensbrück concentration camp, Claudia Roth, the current Minister of Culture, emphasized the need to defend democracy. She stated that in remembrance of the past and with an eye toward the future, it is essential for democrats to confront tendencies such as historical amnesia, hatred, and racism decisively.

Roth highlighted the importance of memories of the crimes committed, as shared by eyewitnesses, to awaken awareness of the present. She stressed that these memories are vital for the future of democratic society, where the unconditional protection of human dignity must be a binding imperative applicable to all individuals without exception.

According to the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation, approximately 1,200 attendees participated in the event, which included nine former inmates.

Another significant commemoration was held for the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, where Bundestag President Julia Klöckner called for a political culture that embraces respectful discourse despite differing views. She noted that Dachau, as the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March 1933, primarily imprisoned political opponents--courageous men and women who resisted oppression and coercion.

As President of the German Bundestag, Klöckner expressed her respect for these individuals. She also acknowledged that the Dachau memorial site could only be established 60 years ago due to the efforts of former concentration camp survivors. Their commitment ensured that Dachau would serve as a memorial for Nazi crimes, countering societal resistance that preferred silence and quick forgetfulness.

Klöckner expressed gratitude to Holocaust survivors present at the event, including Abba Naor, Leslie Rosenthal, and Jean Lafaurie, recognizing their contributions in social media for remembrance work.

It is noted that tens of thousands lost their lives in both the Dachau and Ravensbrück camps. Dachau was established in March 1933 and served as a model for subsequent camps, with over 200,000 individuals imprisoned there, and more than 41,500 murdered by 1945. The camp was liberated by American troops on April 29, 1945.

Ravensbrück, located near Fürstenberg/Havel, was established in 1939 as the largest women's concentration camp on German soil. It later included a men's camp and a facility for girls and young women. Alongside the camp grounds, the company Siemens & Halske built 20 workshops where inmates were forced to work. Approximately 120,000 women, 800 children, and 20,000 men were deported to Ravensbrück, with around 28,000 murdered there. The camp was liberated by Soviet soldiers on April 30, 1945, shortly after the SS had forced many inmates on death marches.