Auschwitz Survivors Commemorate 80 Years Since Liberation
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Simon Gronowski, a Holocaust survivor, recalls his harrowing escape from a train bound for Auschwitz-Birkenau, as the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation approaches. At just 11 years old, Simon, along with his mother Chana, was taken by the Gestapo during the Nazi occupation of Belgium in 1943. After being detained in a transit camp, they were loaded onto a train with other prisoners, unaware of their fate.
During the journey, the train came under attack from the Belgian Resistance, allowing a brief moment for escape. As Chana instructed Simon to jump from the train, she was caught by soldiers. "My mother sacrificed herself to ensure my escape," Simon said, highlighting the profound impact of her bravery.
Simon survived by fleeing into the woods and later found refuge with a local family. Tragically, his mother was killed in the gas chambers shortly after. Reflecting on current events, Simon expressed concern over the rising popularity of far-right parties and antisemitism in Europe and the United States, urging vigilance against such ideologies that he believes lead to hatred.
He will join survivors and international dignitaries, including King Charles and President Macron, for commemorative events marking the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, a significant moment in history that witnessed the murder of over a million people, mainly Jews. Today, Simon emphasizes the importance of educating younger generations about the atrocities of the past to safeguard democracy and combat hate.