January 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. To commemorate this anniversary, many survivors went back to the concentration camp. The survivors and their children also shared their stories of staying in Auschwitz to some news websites and papers. This anniversary is an important one because many of the survivors are well into their 80’s and 90’s, so many of the survivors will probably not be alive in another 10 or 20 years.

Auschwitz was a brutal concentration camp. Over 1.1 million Jewish people were killed in the time it was operating. As many as 5 million other people held in the camp were also killed in the surrounding camps, such as gypsies, homosexuals, and other enemies of the state.These killings make Auschwitz hold the record for largest mass murder ever recorded in human history. Auschwitz was liberated on Jan. 27, 1945, by Russian troops. Paula Lebovics tells reporters the story of how a Russian soldier held her on the day of liberation with tears in his eyes. The liberation day was a long awaited day that set many prisoners free. Many Europeans were not aware of the brutality that was happening in Auschwitz. Most people thought that the camp was just a work camp that people would voluntarily go to. Now, 70 years later, people look back on this infamous day with regret for the people who had to suffer, and happiness for the people that were freed.

This year, many survivors went back to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Many countries went representatives to the ceremony to show support for those who attended. Last decade, around 1,500 Auschwitz survivors attended the ceremony honoring them, but this year there were only 300 survivors that were able to attend. The youngest of the people to attend are in their 70’s. The survivors are working hard to make sure their children do not forget what they went through in their lives. Many associations and communities are also working to make sure the next generation remembers what happened in Auschwitz and to remember the hardships many people went through.

Auschwitz was a terrible camp that killed over a million Jewish people, and it deserves to be remembered. It should stand as a reminder of how not to treat people. No one should be judged by their religion, ethnicity, gender, or anything else. Auschwitz now stands as a memorial to the millions that lost their lives and to the horrible things that happened there. In order for mankind to move forward, the world must learn from previous mistakes.