Seventy five years on, 75 flames are lit
THE DUKE and Duchess of Cambridge were both visibly moved after joining Holocaust survivors and dignitaries in London for a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
During the ceremony, the Duke read an extract from a letter written by a friend of his great-grandmother Princess Alice — famed for saving a Jewish family during the Holocaust — about her good deeds.
Later both the Duke and Duchess spoke of being “humbled” and moved as they met survivors in a private room at Westminster’s Central Hall.
The service was also attended by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson — and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The Duchess of Cambridge was seen drying her eyes after the Chief Rabbi spoke of the build-up to the Shoah and the rounding up of Europe’s Jews.
He said: “We stood together after we were rounded up, not knowing where we were being sent to, this was our fate, we had no choice.”
But defiantly the Chief Rabbi told those in attendance they should “never tire in our efforts to stand together to confront antisemitism, racism, hate speech and demonisation.”
Mr Johnson said he felt “a deep sense of shame” that antisemitism continues today. Addressing those gathered at Central Hall, he added: “I feel a deep sense of shame that here in Britain in 2020 we seem to be dealing with a resurgence of the virus of antisemitism and I know that I carry a responsibility as Prime Minister to do everything possible to stamp it out.”
He vowed to ensure the Shoah is not forgotten and also spoke of the “sanctity” of the survivors’ testimonies.
The letter read out by Prince William described how Princess Alice, the Duke of Edinburgh’s mother, had asked to be informed about the fate of the “Cohen” family.
After learning their lives were in danger, she hid Rachel Cohen and her young daughter in her home, despite the danger to her own wellbeing.
The letter said: “It was thanks to the courageous rescue of Princess Alice that the members of the Cohen family were saved.
“The members of the Cohen family left the residence three weeks after liberation, aware that the Princess’s generosity and bravery had spared them from the Nazis.”
The royal couple also lit candles in memory of those killed, which were used to light other candles until 75 flames were burning, to mark the 75 years since Auschwitz was liberated.
Mala Tribich, who survived Ravensbruck and Bergen-Belsen, told the ceremony: “I feel like it is my duty to speak for all those whose voices were silenced and tell of those dark days in Europe.
“By speaking out it is my greatest hope that something positive will be handed down to future generations.”
She appeared on stage to recall how she was taken to Sweden after liberation, before finally being reunited in the UK with her brother Ben — now Sir Ben Helfgott.
Sir Ben was seated next to the royal couple throughout the ceremony.
Laura Marks, chair of the HMDT, began the ceremony saying: “We’ve had the Prince of Wales at Yad Vashem and today the Duchess of Cornwall at Auschwitz, and having the Duke and Duchess here, the message it sends out is how important they consider it to be.”
Survivor Arek Hersh, who was sent into a work camp in Poland aged 11, told how he was ordered to carry out forced labour at Auschwitz-Birkenau and survived a death march to Buchenwald.
Ian Forsyth, a wireless operator with the 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars in the Royal Armoured Corps, wept as he told of the death of an 11-year-old boy he saw after liberating Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. “I hope people can realise how far mankind can sink if they are not careful,” he said. “We must learn that freedom is for everyone. We’re not all the same but that should be celebrated. “
In a video, Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of HMDT, said she was pleased the royal couple had been able to attend the ceremony alongside members of the UK’s political, civic and faith leadership.
She said: “At a time when we know identity-based hostility is increasing, it is heartening to see so many people stand together — both at the UK ceremony and at more than 10,000 local activities around the country.
“Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for us all to learn from genocide, for a better future.”
The JC was invited into the private room after Monday’s event to watch as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met survivors, including Arek Hersh.
At one stage, the Duke was heard discussing the reaction of German guards to the scenes of brutality in the death camps.
He said: “I am surprised there were not more acts of kindness.”
The Duchess spoke with survivors to discuss their efforts today to meet and speak with schoolchildren to tell them of the horrors of the Shoah.
She praised their “interventions” and also heard how the impact of seeing survivors discuss the dark events of the past can help young people in the determination to speak out over injustice in the world today.
Last week, Prince Charles visited Princess Alice’s tomb on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
She was honoured as “Righteous Among the Nations” in Israel for sheltering the Cohen family.