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Auschwitz 70th anniversary: Survivors mark camp liberation Auschwitz 70th anniversary: Survivors warn of new crimes
(about 1 hour later)
Some 300 Auschwitz survivors have returned to the site of the Nazi death camp in southern Poland to mark 70 years since its liberation. Auschwitz survivors have urged the world not to allow a repeat of the crimes of the Holocaust as they mark 70 years since the camp's liberation.
Some 1.1 million people, the vast majority Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945, when advancing Soviet troops liberated it. "We survivors do not want our past to be our children's future," Roman Kent, born in 1929, told a memorial gathering at the death camp's site in Poland.
Ceremonies are under way at the site in the presence of foreign dignitaries. Some 300 Auschwitz survivors returned for the ceremony under a giant tent.
Some 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945, when Soviet troops liberated it.
It is expected to be the last major anniversary event survivors are able to attend in considerable numbers.It is expected to be the last major anniversary event survivors are able to attend in considerable numbers.
Auschwitz was liberated on 27 January 1945. It opened as a museum in 1947. Ronald S Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, told the commemoration: "Jews are targeted in Europe once again because they are Jews.
The ceremony began with a classical concert after which the survivors were applauded. "It looks more like 1933 than 2015. Once again young Jewish boys are afraid to wear yarmulkes [skullcaps] on the streets of Paris, Budapest, London and even Berlin... World silence led to Auschwitz. Do not let this happen again."
Welcoming the visitors, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said the Germans had made Poland a "cemetery for Jews".
Auschwitz survivor Halina Birenbaum, born in 1929, told the assembly that her greatest duty was to "tell others how much people [in the camps] had wanted to live".
"I lived my mother's dream to see the oppressor defeated," she said, condemning Holocaust denial and warning that anti-Semitism remained a threat.
Earlier, wreaths were laid at the site as ceremonies took place in other parts of Europe and at Israel's Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem.
Paula Lebovics, an 81-year-old survivor from Encino, California, told the AP News agency that she remembered how as a small, hungry girl of 11 she was lifted up by a Russian soldier who rocked her tenderly in his arms, tears coming to his eyes.
She did not know who that soldier was but she still felt enormous gratitude to him and the other Soviet soldiers, Ms Lebovics said, adding: "They were our liberators."
Renee Salt, 85, from north London, visited the camp for the first time 10 years ago and "buried the ghosts", she told the BBC, and has been going back ever since.
"I'll do it for as long as I can. Why? There are still a lot of Holocaust-deniers the world over and if we don't speak out, the world won't know what happened."
In the Czech capital Prague, speakers of parliament from across the EU gathered with the European Jewish Congress to issue a declaration condemning anti-Semitism and hate crimes.In the Czech capital Prague, speakers of parliament from across the EU gathered with the European Jewish Congress to issue a declaration condemning anti-Semitism and hate crimes.
The Prague Declaration urges "zero tolerance" and advocates fighting hates crimes through education, legislation and law enforcement. The Prague Declaration urges "zero tolerance" and advocates fighting hate crimes through education, legislation and law enforcement.
At the scene: Kevin Connolly, BBC NewsAt the scene: Kevin Connolly, BBC News
Those who survived Auschwitz lived through one of the 20th Century's worst acts of hatred and inhumanity. Many of those still alive today were children in 1945 but they are elderly now and this may be the last significant anniversary where so many will gather.Those who survived Auschwitz lived through one of the 20th Century's worst acts of hatred and inhumanity. Many of those still alive today were children in 1945 but they are elderly now and this may be the last significant anniversary where so many will gather.
A huge, white temporary building has been erected over the brick railway buildings where many of the Jews of Europe were sorted into those who were fit enough for slave labour and those who would be taken straight to the gas chambers.A huge, white temporary building has been erected over the brick railway buildings where many of the Jews of Europe were sorted into those who were fit enough for slave labour and those who would be taken straight to the gas chambers.
Candles have been lit at the Death Wall where prisoners were executed - small points of light in this wintry landscape of snow and ice, where Europe is remembering a time of darkness.Candles have been lit at the Death Wall where prisoners were executed - small points of light in this wintry landscape of snow and ice, where Europe is remembering a time of darkness.
Bearing witness through drawingBearing witness through drawing
On Tuesday the Russian defence ministry published what it said were archive documents about the liberation of Auschwitz. 'My mother's dream'
They include an account by Gen Kramnikov of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front, whose soldiers opened the gates, about "endless crowds of people" leaving the death camp. The ceremony began with a classical music performance - an Auschwitz Suite composed especially for the anniversary.
"They all look extremely exhausted, grey-haired old men, youths, women with young babies and teenagers, nearly all of them half-naked," the general wrote. Welcoming the visitors, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said the Germans had made Poland a "cemetery for Jews".
"The first indications are that in Auschwitz hundreds of thousands of prisoners have been worked to death, burned or shot dead." Auschwitz survivor Halina Birenbaum, born in 1929, told the assembly that her greatest duty was to "tell others how much people [in the camps] had wanted to live".
"I lived my mother's dream to see the oppressor defeated," she said, condemning Holocaust denial and warning that anti-Semitism remained a threat.
After the speeches, Jewish and Christian prayers for the dead were said before candles were lit at the Birkenau monument to the victims.
Auschwitz was liberated on 27 January 1945. It opened as a museum in 1947.
Anniversary ceremonies took place in other parts of Europe and at Israel's Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem.
Auschwitz-Birkenau death campAuschwitz-Birkenau death camp
Life in the city of AuschwitzLife in the city of Auschwitz
German President Joachim Gauck and French President Francois Hollande are among the national leaders travelling to Poland for the anniversary. Paula Lebovics, an 81-year-old survivor from Encino, California, told the AP News agency that she remembered how as a small, hungry girl of 11 she was lifted up by a Russian soldier who rocked her tenderly in his arms, tears coming to his eyes.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin is not attending amid a row with Poland over the commemoration and linked to Russia's recent intervention in Ukraine. She did not know who that soldier was but she still felt enormous gratitude to him and the other Soviet soldiers, Ms Lebovics said, adding: "They were our liberators."
Renee Salt, 85, from north London, visited the camp for the first time 10 years ago and "buried the ghosts", she told the BBC, and has been going back ever since.
"I'll do it for as long as I can. Why? There are still a lot of Holocaust-deniers the world over and if we don't speak out, the world won't know what happened."
On Tuesday the Russian defence ministry published what it said were archive documents (in Russian) about the liberation of Auschwitz.
Gen Kramnikov, whose soldiers opened the gates, described "endless crowds of people" leaving the death camp.
"They all look extremely exhausted, grey-haired old men, youths, women with young babies and teenagers, nearly all of them half-naked," he wrote.
"The first indications are that in Auschwitz hundreds of thousands of prisoners have been worked to death, burned or shot dead."
Russian President Vladimir Putin was among world leaders not attending the ceremony amid a row with Poland over the commemoration and linked to Russia's recent intervention in Ukraine.
Instead, the Russian leader attended a commemoration at Moscow's Jewish Museum along with Russia's Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar.Instead, the Russian leader attended a commemoration at Moscow's Jewish Museum along with Russia's Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar.
Before leaving Paris, Mr Hollande condemned the "unbearable" problem of contemporary anti-Semitism, telling Jews at a Holocaust memorial, "France is your homeland." Before leaving Paris for Poland, French President Francois Hollande condemned the "unbearable" problem of contemporary anti-Semitism, telling Jews at a Holocaust memorial, "France is your homeland."
He spoke after a Jewish group said the number of anti-Semitic acts recorded in France had doubled in 2014 to more than 850. Earlier this month, a Jewish supermarket was targeted during deadly attacks that shook the French capital. Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a "disgrace" that Jews faced insults, threats and violence.
On the eve of the Auschwitz anniversary, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a "disgrace" that Jews faced insults, threats and violence. "We've got to fight anti-Semitism and all racism from the outset," she said at a memorial event in Berlin.
"We've got to fight anti-Semitism and all racism from the outset," she said at a memorial event in Berlin. "We've got to constantly be on guard to protect our freedom, democracy and rule of law."
The museum has long struggled to find funding for its upkeep, though the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation recently said it had almost reached its goal of raising an endowment of more than $150m (£100m; €134).
Are you related to a survivor or a survivor attending the commemoration? If so, what are your memories? You can share your pictures by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you related to a survivor or a survivor attending the commemoration? If so, what are your memories? You can share your pictures by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
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