Today (27/01/2025) marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz by soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front.
In 1940, the Nazis established Auschwitz concentration camp in the suburbs of Oświęcim, a city located in the south of Nazi-occupied Poland.[1] The largest of the Nazis’ concentration camps, Auschwitz was made up of an extensive network of sub-camps. In these camps approximately 1.1 million people were systematically murdered, over 90% of whom were Jewish.[2]
On 27 January 1945, around 7,000 people were liberated from the three largest camps in Auschwitz: Auschwitz I (also known as the Main Camp), Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. Around 500 more people were also liberated from several sub-camps in the days around 27 January.[3]
Prior to liberation, Auschwitz underwent an evacuation and liquidation process. Beginning in August 1944, approximately 65,000 prisoners were evacuated to Germany over the course of six months. During this time, Nazi soldiers also attempted to destroy any evidence of the crimes committed in Auschwitz, dismantling and demolishing gas chambers and destroying records at an increased rate.[4] The final evacuation of the camp took place from 17 to 21 January 1945, when a further 65,000 prisoners were evacuated on what has come to be known as the “Death Marches”.[5]
The remaining 7,000 prisoners, who were not evacuated, were met by the Soviet Red Army 80 years ago today. The Soviet soldiers arrived at the Monowitz sub-camp, located on the east side of Oświęcim, in the morning. By around 3pm they had made their way to the Main Camp and Birkenau. During the process of liberation, the remaining German soldiers resisted, resulting in the deaths of over 230 Soviet soldiers.[6]
Since 2005, today has been designated as International Holocaust Memorial Day.[7] This year, a special commemoration event will be held at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, honouring the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation. Beginning at 4pm CET (3pm GMT), the commemoration event will be broadcast globally and attended by state and institutional delegates, as well as Auschwitz survivors.[8] Several other commemorative events will take place across the world today, including the annual UK Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony and its “Light the Darkness” national moment.[9]
Today, we honour the lives lost during the Holocaust. On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it is important to reflect upon the horrors of the past and learn from the atrocities committed to ensure that they are never repeated.
[1] “KL Auschwitz-Birkenau”, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, available at https://www.auschwitz.org/en/history/kl-auschwitz-birkenau/.
[2] “27 January 1945: Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau”, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, available at https://hmd.org.uk/resource/27-january-1945-liberation-of-auschwitz-birkenau/.
[3] “Liberation of KL Auschwitz”, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, available at https://www.auschwitz.org/en/liberation-of-kl-auschwitz-80/.
[4] Ibid
[5] “The final evacuation and liquidation of the camp”, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, available at https://www.auschwitz.org/en/history/evacuation/the-final-evacuation-and-liquidation-of-the-camp/.
[6] “Liberation of KL Auschwitz”, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, available at https://www.auschwitz.org/en/liberation-of-kl-auschwitz-80/.
[7] Alexandra Richie, “The Origins of International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, The National WWII Museum New Orleans, 27 January 2024, available at https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/origins-international-holocaust-remembrance-day.
[8] “80th Anniversary of The Liberation of German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz”, Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, available at https://www.auschwitz.org/en/home-page-80/.
[9] “Holocaust Memorial Day 2025”, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, available at https://hmd.org.uk/ukhmd/.