The Auschwitz survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch has warned Germany against downplaying Holocaust and Nazi crimes. “It cannot be blamed on present generation that it no longer wants to identify itself with crimes,” said Lasker-Wallfisch at memorial hour of Bundestag for victims of National Socialism. “But a denial must not be.” This is not about feelings of guilt, but about certainty “that such a thing must never happen again”.
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The 92-year-old also warned against new hostility to Jews. “Anti-Semitism is a 2,000-year-old virus, apparently incurable,” she said in her speech. “It is no longer necessary to say Jews today. Today it is Israelis. ” It often lacks understanding of connections. “What a scandal that Jewish schools, even Jewish kindergartens, must be guarded by police.”
The Bundestag remembered on Wednesday of liberation of Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz on 27 January 1945 by Soviet troops. Since 1996, Germans commemorate on this day millions of victims of Holocaust.
Lasker-Wallfisch remembered how persecution of Jews in 1930s put a abrupt end to ir family life. “The idyll was over. Radical exclusion. ‘ Jews undesirable ‘ was read everywhere, ‘ said Lasker-Wallfisch in Bundestag. “We had to vacate our apartment and back to Middle Ages: we had to wear yellow star on our clos.”
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The parents of three siblings were deported in April 1942, portrayed Lasker-Wallfisch. “Of course we wanted to stay toger, to go along. But our far said wise words: No, where we go, you get enough time. ” Both parents were murdered by Nazis.
Auschwitz “leaving as smoke”
Lasker-Wallfisch survived Auschwitz extermination camp as a cellist in girls ‘ orchestra. The members had to play for camp staff, among or things. In spring of 1945 she was released toger with her sister Renate by British troops from Bergen-Belsen camp. “Who would have thought that we would leave Auschwitz alive and not as smoke,” she said, referring to combustion furnaces.
Her self had been hated by all Germans, said Lasker-Wallfisch, who emigrated to England and co-founded English Chamber Orchestra in London. She swore she’d never come back. But later she changed her mind and has been reporting her experiences in this country for years now. “Hatred is simply a poison. And ultimately, you poison yourself. “
Lasker-Wallfisch also recalled situation in autumn of 2015 when many refugees came to Germany. At time of National Socialism, borders for Jews had been hermetically closed, she said. The fact that Germany left borders for refugees Open is a “courageous and human gesture”. For her speech she reaped applause of all political groups. The deputies had risen from ir seats.
Warning against violent crime
“We believe in knowing what is good and evil,” had previously said Bundestag president Wolfgang Schäuble in his address. “Musical sensibility and bestial cruelty; These perpetrators were both possible. ” Schäuble warned against relying on stability of democratic institutions. “The rule of law, separation of powers, democracy needs our commitment.”
Schäuble recalled hostilities against migrants and Muslims, burning of Israeli flags and growing violent crime. He criticized that Jews today once again experienced anti-Semitic hostility in everyday life and would have to hide ir tipping under baseball caps. “Agitation and violence must not have a place in our society,” warned Bundestag president. “Anyone who stirs hatred spoils insecurity, fears of people.” The free, democratic, constitutional, peaceful Germany is “built on historical experience of immense violence.”
