On 27 January 1945, Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camp, located in occupied Poland. This historic event exposed the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust to the world and remains a stark reminder of humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and resilience.
As part of their advance against German forces, the Soviet Red Army entered the camp and found around 7,000 remaining prisoners—many of whom were emaciated, sick, and near death. These individuals were the last survivors of Auschwitz, as the Nazis had forced tens of thousands of others on death marches to evacuate the camp in the face of the Soviet approach. Those too weak to move had been left behind to die.
The liberation revealed the full scale of atrocities committed at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Opened in 1940, the camp had evolved into a complex of facilities where over 1.1 million people—mostly Jews—were systematically murdered. Among the victims were also Polish political prisoners, Romani people, Soviet prisoners of war, and others the Nazis deemed undesirable.
Survivors gave harrowing testimonies of starvation, forced labour, medical experiments, and gas chambers. Piles of belongings, human hair, and ashes from cremated bodies offered chilling evidence of the industrialised genocide carried out by the Nazi regime.
The liberation of Auschwitz marked a turning point in global awareness of the Holocaust. It highlighted the systematic extermination of six million Jews and millions of other victims. The world was confronted with the grim reality of the Holocaust through photographs, testimonies, and the physical evidence left behind.
Today, 27 January is observed as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, honouring the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirming a global commitment to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. The anniversary serves as a solemn occasion to remember those who perished, recognise the courage of survivors, and reflect on the importance of standing against hatred, prejudice, and extremism in all its forms.
The liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau stands as a powerful reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred and the enduring responsibility to uphold human rights and dignity.
Also read: World leaders in Poland to mark 80th Holocaust Memorial Day
Featured photo source: France24
