German Students Learn from Holocaust Survivors and Warn of Growing Antisemitism

“Seeing a concentration camp with my own eyes and listening to a survivor who went through it all, that’s really brought it home. It’s important for young people like me. We’ll soon be able to vote. The far right is gaining more and more support in Germany and we need to learn from the past.”

Xavier, a 17-year-old German student, shared his experience at a Holocaust education center in Dachau, southern Germany. Located near the former Nazi concentration camp, Dachau is now a place where students learn about Germany’s dark history.

Eva Umlauf, a Holocaust survivor, spoke to the students. Born in 1936, Eva was the youngest inmate freed from Auschwitz. She and her audience listened intently as she shared her experiences and the lessons she wanted to impart.

Eva described the Holocaust as a warning of what can happen when prejudice takes over. She is now 85 and continues to speak about her experiences, hoping to educate and prevent any repetition of history’s darkest moments.

Xavier and his classmates are not the only ones learning these lessons. Across Germany and Europe, young people are visiting concentration camps and listening to Holocaust survivors.

Eighteen-year-old Melike admitted she had limited knowledge about the Holocaust before the visit. Listening to Eva’s story, she felt a deep emotional connection.

“I wear a headscarf and often face disapproval. We need to learn more about one another to live together harmoniously,” Melike said.

Miguel and Ida, both 17, expressed concern about growing racism and antisemitism on social media, calling for greater awareness.

While young people seek knowledge and understanding, intolerance remains a significant issue in Europe and worldwide.

Charlotte Knobloch, acting president of the Jewish Community in Munich, expressed her concerns about escalating antisemitism.

“Antisemitism never disappeared entirely after the war, but it hadn’t reached these levels again in Germany,” Knobloch said, reflecting on incidents of violence and discrimination against Jews.

Surveys by organizations like the Community Security Trust in the UK and the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency confirm her fears, with a majority of Jews reporting experiences of antisemitism.

The Holocaust stands as a stark reminder of humanity’s darkest capabilities and the importance of learning its lessons.

Academic Deborah Lipstadt, who worked with former President Joe Biden on combating antisemitism, noted a rise in hate crimes linked to conflicts like those in Gaza.

“Israel’s military actions are often blamed on Jewish people in general. All Jews cannot be held responsible for decisions made by the government of Israel. That is racism,” Lipstadt explained.

Eva Umlauf’s message echoes through the halls of Dachau: “We were rats, subhumans, totally dehumanised by this master race. And so it did not matter to them if you were two years old, or 80 years old.”

Her words serve as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the importance of preventing such events from recurring.

As the anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation approaches, it is crucial for societies to remember and learn from the past to build a brighter future.

In a forest near Gdansk, Poland, lies a symbolic reminder of the Holocaust: discarded shoes belonging to victims.

Polish musician Grzegorz Kwiatkowski sees these shoes as more than just objects. “They are shouting: we were alive 80 years ago!” he says, advocating for their preservation to serve as a powerful anti-war and anti-discrimination message.