- Title: Exhibition to remember Auschwitz opens ahead of anniversary.
- Date: 25th January 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** EXTERIOR OF GERMAN RESISTANCE MEMORIAL CENTRE AUSCHWITZ SURVIVOR PROFESSOR FELIX KOLMER ADDRESSING AUDIENCE AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSCHWITZ SURVIVOR PROFESSOR FELIX KOLMER, SAYING: "But I am still a boy scout. Scouts never stop believing in justice. Still today there are weak people. People who are in need. Refugees are being chased and are full of fear. Europe is a grand idea. We have a duty to provide asylum. The world back then could have protected us and taken us in. But the world - with a few exceptions - didn't care about us. Never again do I want to live in a world where people don't care about other people. This exhibition is a small attempt to go up against this. For me and the other survivors it is very important that young people are also heard at this exhibition." AUDIENCE CLAPPING GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL WALKING UP TO PODIUM AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER SIGMAR GABRIEL, SAYING: "What the Constitutional Court said - in a synopsis of the judgement (about whether to ban the far-right NPD party) - was: 'terrible party but insignificant' this happened parallel to the rise of another party in Germany. We are opening this exhibition only a few days after a representative of the AFD, who is not without influence within the party, said he wanted a change in the politics of remembrance of 180 degrees in Germany. And we should be under no illusion. He means it seriously. And what I found so terrible was the fanatical applause of his supporters when he said it and the fact that there has been a lot of agreement with these views." AUDIENCE CLAPPING / GABRIEL LEAVING STAGE PHOTOGRAPH IN EXHIBITION KOLMER WALKING THROUGH EXHIBITION CLOSE OF KOLMER LOOKING AT PICTURE EXHIBITION EXPLAINER READING: YOU SHOULD CARE, NOT CARING KILLS KOLMER'S WIFE IN CONVERSATION PERSON LOOKING AT EXHIBITION CLOSE OF PHOTO VARIOUS OF KOLMER TALKING TO GABRIEL POSTER READING: REMEMBER GABRIEL GREETING TRAINEES WITH VOLKSWAGEN PHOTOGRAPHERS GROUP PHOTO WITH GABRIEL AND KOLMER CLOSE OF GABRIEL AND KOLMER PEOPLE LOOKING AT EXHIBITION VARIOUS OF KOLMER AND WIFE STANDING UNDER PHOTO IN EXHIBITION
- Embargoed: 8th February 2017 20:23
- Keywords: Holocaust Gabriel Auschwitz Poland Germany
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00160KTP3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:As global remembrance events start to mark the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz a Czech camp survivor was in Germany on Wednesday (January 25) to urge young people to use their voice for good and called on people to help make a better future.
"Scouts never stop believing in justice. Still today there are weak people. People who are in need. Refugees are being chased and are full of fear. Europe is a grand idea. We have a duty to provide asylum. The world back then could have protected us and taken us in. But the world - with a few exceptions - didn't care about us. Never again do I want to live in a world where people don't care about other people," Professor Felix Kolmer said at the opening of the exhibition, "Shoes. Bricks. Me. - Reflections from Auschwitz", in the German capital.
Kolmer was sent to Theresienstadt as a forced labourer in 1941. After participating in an uprising he was deported to Auschwitz in 1944. As a member of the International Auschwitz Committee, Kolmer said he hoped the exhibition of photographs and testimonies from survivors would help people remember that they should help one another and not fuel further hatred.
German Economy Minster Sigmar Gabriel also attended the exhibition opening in a fortnight that has seen a surge in right-wing utterances on German soil.
Several far-right leaders from all over Europe met in Koblenz on Saturday (January 21) under the slogan 'Freedom for Europe' with the aim of strengthening ties between their parties, whose nationalist tendencies have hampered close collaboration in the past.
Germany's constitutional court also recently refused a plea to ban the far-right German NPD party, saying the party had clear National Socialist leanings but lacked influence or means to cause any threat.
The rightist AfD party has also been making headlines.
"We are opening this exhibition only a few days after a representative of the AFD, who is not without influence within the party, said he wanted a turnaround in the politics of remembrance of 180 degrees in Germany. And we should be under no illusion. He means it seriously. And what I found so terrible was the fanatical applause of his supporters when he said it and the fact that there has been a lot of agreement with these views," Gabriel added, referring to a speech by AfD regional leader Bjoern Hoecke criticising the erection of Holocaust memorials in Germany.
The 72nd anniversary celebrations commemorating the liberation of the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz will take place on 27 January 2017. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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