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Holocaust Day marked at Auschwitz Holocaust Day marked at Auschwitz
(19 minutes later)
Events are taking place at Auschwitz to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp, as the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day. Events have taken place at Auschwitz to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp, as the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day.
Auschwitz survivors and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among those gathering in Poland, where the camp was built under German occupation. Elderly survivors gathered in freezing weather in Poland, where the camp was built under German occupation.
In Berlin, Israeli President Shimon Peres urged Germany and other countries to pursue Holocaust perpetrators. Israel's prime minister and president urged that the Holocaust should never be forgotten, mourned its dead, and warned of a new danger posed by Iran.
More than a million people were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz.More than a million people were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz.
The great majority were Jews but they also included non-Jewish Poles, Roma Gypsies and Soviet prisoners of war.The great majority were Jews but they also included non-Jewish Poles, Roma Gypsies and Soviet prisoners of war.
The camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army on 27 January 1945.The camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army on 27 January 1945.
Peres pleaPeres plea
At least six million Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II.At least six million Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II.
Shimon Peres was given a standing ovation by German MPs Speaking in a tent pitched amid snowy conditions at Birkenau death camp, next door to Auschwitz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We sit in a warm tent, we remember those who shivered to death, and if they didn't freeze to death they were gassed and burned in a horrible conflagration.
Addressing Germany's parliament, Israel's president Shimon Peres said some of those who carried out the Holocaust "still live on German and European soil, and in other parts of the world". "And we remember too that one third of the righteous of the nations - those who risked their lives and more so risked the lives of their children and their families to save others - were Polish people. We remember that."
"My request of you is: Please do everything to bring them to justice." I remember the last words and the order I heard from his mouth: 'My boy, always remain a Jew' Israeli President Shimon PeresSpeaking about his grandfather
He also recalled leaving his grandfather behind in Poland, when his family moved to Palestine in 1934. His grandfather was later killed by the Nazis - herded into a synagogue with the other Jews of his village, and burned to death. Earlier, speaking to reporters, Mr Netanyahu said the Jewish people - unlike 65 years ago - were now prepared for any new threat to destroy them, and that Israel was "a country that is able to alert the nations of the world to the danger".
His comments were widely perceived as referring to Iran, though he did not mention it by name.
In Berlin, addressing Germany's parliament, Israel's President Shimon Peres was more explicit, drawing parallels between Nazi Germany and present-day Iran, which he called a "fanatical regime" and "a danger to the entire world".
Reflecting on the Holocaust, he said some of those who carried it out "still live on German and European soil, and in other parts of the world".
"My request of you is: Please do everything to bring them to justice," he told German MPs.
Mr Peres also recalled leaving his grandfather behind in Poland, when his family moved to Palestine in 1934. His grandfather was later killed by the Nazis - herded into a synagogue with the other Jews of his village, and burned to death.
"I remember his poignant embrace. I remember the last words and the order I heard from his mouth: 'My boy, always remain a Jew'," he said."I remember his poignant embrace. I remember the last words and the order I heard from his mouth: 'My boy, always remain a Jew'," he said.
Mr Peres also said there were parallels between Nazi Germany and present-day Iran, which he called a "fanatical regime" and "a danger to the entire world". Advertisement
Renate Collins was on the last train of Jewish evacuees to leave Germany and the Czech Republic for the UK in 1939
Replica signReplica sign
Some of those who survived the Holocaust gathered at the site of the Auschwitz and neighbouring Birkenau death camps on Wednesday, despite the cold and the snow. Some of those who survived the Holocaust gathered at Auschwitz on Wednesday, many with their relatives.
Many had relatives with them.
They passed beneath the notorious sign above the entrance, reading "Arbeit Macht Frei", or "Work Makes You Free".They passed beneath the notorious sign above the entrance, reading "Arbeit Macht Frei", or "Work Makes You Free".
The sign is a replica. The original was stolen last month. It has been recovered, in three pieces, but not yet repaired and repositioned.The sign is a replica. The original was stolen last month. It has been recovered, in three pieces, but not yet repaired and repositioned.
August Kowalczyk spent two years at Auschwitz and survived.August Kowalczyk spent two years at Auschwitz and survived.
"This place determined who I am today, aged nearly 90," he said."This place determined who I am today, aged nearly 90," he said.
"I still have one mission - to pass on to the next generation knowledge of what happened here.""I still have one mission - to pass on to the next generation knowledge of what happened here."
Later Mr Netanyahu was to speak at a commemorative ceremony.
Poland's President, Lech Kaczynski, was also expected and US President Barack Obama was sending a video message.
There has been some controversy surrounding the presence in Mr Netanyahu's delegation of Israeli Arab MP Mohammed Barakeh, who has firmly criticised Israeli policy towards the Palestinians.
Right-wing Israeli MPs said he should be barred, fearing he would use the visit to criticise Israel. While some Palestinians said he should not be showing sympathy for Israel.
But Mr Barakeh said: "I came to hear the cries of those who have disappeared in Auschwitz."
"I don't understand the criticism," he said.
"I have fought against racism all my life. The Holocaust is the most tragic drama of modern history."