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Poland remembers ghetto uprising Poland remembers ghetto uprising
(about 4 hours later)
Poland is holding events to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. The Polish and Israeli presidents have led events to mark the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski with 100 guests gathered at a large square on the site of the ghetto, where thousands of Jews died. The main ceremony was held at a monument honouring hundreds of Jewish fighters who resisted German attempts to eradicate the ghetto.
Beside the monument to the ghetto fighters, Mr Kaczynski said the world must remain vigilant to ensure such horrors were not repeated. Polish President Lech Kaczynski said the world must remain vigilant to prevent a repeat of such horrors.
Israeli President Shimon Peres said that the fighters represented the victory of humanity over bestiality.
The uprising was the largest act of Jewish resistance in the Holocaust.The uprising was the largest act of Jewish resistance in the Holocaust.
For nearly a month in 1943, several hundred Jews, armed with pistols and home-made bombs, resisted German attempts to eradicate the ghetto. Paying tribute
Peres attending During the ceremony, a Jewish cantor sang a memorial prayer to the victims, and wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument.
They lost the battle, but from history's point of view there never was a greater victory Shimon PeresIsraeli president Several hundred people were present, including Holocaust survivors, politicians and members of the public.
Mr Peres, who began a four-day visit on Monday with a trip to the Treblinka site in north-east Poland, praised the heroism of the Jewish fighters.
"The majority of the uprising fighters died, murdered in cold blood," he said.
They lost the battle, but from history's point of view, there never was a greater victory. A victory of men over human bestiality, of pure souls over fallen ones."
The annual commemoration of the uprising is normally held on 19 April but was brought forward to avoid clashing with the Jewish Sabbath.
For nearly a month in 1943, several hundred Jews, armed with pistols and home-made bombs, held off the German army for almost a month before the ghetto was razed to the ground.
By that time, the Nazis had sent 300,000 Jewish residents of the ghetto to the gas chambers at the Treblinka death camp.By that time, the Nazis had sent 300,000 Jewish residents of the ghetto to the gas chambers at the Treblinka death camp.
We are finding more and more Poles who want to work with us in preserving these cemeteries and synagogues and Jewish memory Michael SchudrichPoland's Chief Rabbi
The first clashes occurred at the start of 1943 as residents took up arms to prevent more Jews being sent to the camp.The first clashes occurred at the start of 1943 as residents took up arms to prevent more Jews being sent to the camp.
The full-scale uprising began in April in response to Nazi plans to wipe out the 60,000 remaining inhabitants.The full-scale uprising began in April in response to Nazi plans to wipe out the 60,000 remaining inhabitants.
Thousands of Jews died in the fighting as Nazi troops resorted to explosives to destroy the ghetto the German occupiers had created in 1940.Thousands of Jews died in the fighting as Nazi troops resorted to explosives to destroy the ghetto the German occupiers had created in 1940.
Warsaw Ghetto uprising in detailWarsaw Ghetto uprising in detail
The annual commemoration of the uprising is normally held on 19 April but has been brought forward to avoid clashing with the Jewish Sabbath.
Israeli President Shimon Peres is among prominent figures attending.
He began a four-day visit to Poland on Monday with a visit to the Treblinka site in the north-east of the country.
CompensationCompensation
A candle-lighting ceremony is also taking place at the site of the bunker where the leader of the uprising, Mordechai Anielewicz, and 80 followers killed themselves as Nazi forces suppressed the uprising. A candle-lighting ceremony will also take place at the site of the bunker where the leader of the uprising, Mordechai Anielewicz, and 80 followers killed themselves as Nazi forces suppressed the uprising.
The commemoration will close with the Kaddish, or Jewish prayer for the dead, and a multi-faith service. Jewish residents fought for nearly a month before the uprising was crushed
Jewish residents fought for nearly a month
The BBC's Adam Easton says Poland's Jewish community - numbering more than three million - used to be the largest in Europe, but was almost completely wiped out in the Holocaust.The BBC's Adam Easton says Poland's Jewish community - numbering more than three million - used to be the largest in Europe, but was almost completely wiped out in the Holocaust.
But the Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich says there is growing interest in the country's Jewish past. But Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich says there is growing interest in the country's Jewish past.
"In Poland anti-Semitism is no greater than the unacceptable level of France or England," he said."In Poland anti-Semitism is no greater than the unacceptable level of France or England," he said.
"In addition, we are finding more and more Poles who want to work with us in preserving these cemeteries and synagogues and Jewish memory."In addition, we are finding more and more Poles who want to work with us in preserving these cemeteries and synagogues and Jewish memory.
"There are more Jewish festivals in Poland today than I believe any other country in the world"."There are more Jewish festivals in Poland today than I believe any other country in the world".
The Polish government also plans to compensate people whose property was stolen by the Nazis and the subsequent communist administrations.The Polish government also plans to compensate people whose property was stolen by the Nazis and the subsequent communist administrations.