1945: Liberation of Auschwitz

A photograph of emaciated Auschwitz survivors behind barbed wire, taken after liberation.

What Happened?

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops entered Auschwitz, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, freeing over 7,000 survivors and revealing the atrocities committed there. Auschwitz became a haunting symbol of the Holocaust, where more than 1.1 million people were murdered. Its liberation exposed the unimaginable depths of human cruelty and the resilience of those who endured it, challenging the world to remember and confront the dangers of hatred and bigotry.

Why It Matters

The liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, exposed the full scale of Nazi atrocities and served as a turning point in humanity’s understanding of the Holocaust. Auschwitz is a stark reminder of how unchecked hatred can lead to unimaginable suffering and systemic oppression. This moment challenges us to not only remember the past but to actively work against bigotry, anti-Semitism, and prejudice in all forms. By honoring the stories of survivors and the memory of those who were murdered, we ensure that the lessons of Auschwitz endure, guiding us toward a more compassionate and just world.

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Dig Deeper

Holocaust survivor Eva Geiringer reflects on life in Auschwitz. In 1944, Americans first learned details of the camp when three escapees meticulously documented what they’d seen. When the War Refugee Board received the report from Switzerland, they made the firsthand testimony public, and it became headline news. But Americans still couldn't grasp the scale and scope of the crime.

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