Gary Sokolov Honors Father by Visiting Auschwitz on 80th Anniversary of Liberation

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On January 27, Gary Sokolov made a poignant visit to Auschwitz as part of a documentary airing on Sky History, marking the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation. The trip fulfills a dying wish of his father, Lali Sokolov, the camp's tattooist, who expressed regret for not returning to apologize to the victims he could not save. Gary recalled being overwhelmed by horror while walking through the camp, stating, “It was way beyond my expectation of how horrific it was.”

Lali Sokolov's incredible survival story, immortalized in the bestselling book "The Tattooist of Auschwitz," reveals how he bonded with guards to communicate with his wife, Gita, and navigate the atrocities of the Holocaust. Gary aims to keep his parents' legacy alive, emphasizing the importance of educating younger generations about these historical events. He noted a rise in interest around the Auschwitz memorial following the release of the book and associated miniseries, highlighting that “what his parents’ story is doing to help remember is an amazing thing,” as global anti-Semitism remains a pressing concern.

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