Memory of the world: The ceremony in memory of the victims of the Auschwitz first held in Russia at the state level

27 January 2015
Source: The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation

In the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow took place the grand evening-requiem dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. First in Russia the similar ceremony was held at the highest state level.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is set by the General Assembly of the United Nations and is celebrated worldwide on 27 January. On this day in 1945, Soviet troops liberated the prisoners of the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau near the Polish town of Oswiecim.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to all those attending the requiem held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army and International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The President said, in particular, in his message:

“The Holocaust was one of the most tragic and shameful pages in human history. Millions of innocent people fell victim to the Nazis, went through the hell of the death camps and were shot, tortured, and died from hunger and disease. The Red Army put an end to these atrocities and this ruthless barbarity and saved not just the Jewish people but also the other peoples of Europe and the world.

We must always remember firmly that any attempts to rewrite history and our country’s contribution to the great victory would be tantamount to justifying Nazism’s crimes and would open the door to the re-emergence of this deadly ideology. Forgetting the lessons of our common past could lead to a repeat of these terrible tragedies. It is therefore our duty to defend the truth about the events of World War II and stand up for the achievements, dignity, and good name of the living and the fallen.

This is our duty and a matter of honor before the generations to come”.

 

The Minister of Culture of Russia Vladimir Medinsky in his speech said: “January 27 is marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day - one of the saddest days in the year, but at the same time it is our common “holiday with tears in his eyes”. The day when 70 years ago the troops of Marshal Konev, among which, particularly stress were Soviet citizens of all nationalities - Russian and Belarusians, Ukrainians and Tatars, Georgians and Jews - were released last prisoners of Auschwitz".

The guests at the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War watched a theatrical performance, covering the entire history of the Holocaust. At the heart of the production - the most tragic stages of the World War II: Rise of the Third Reich in the Soviet Union, the blockade of Leningrad, which became a turning point and the Battle of Kursk - during the liberation of Poland - rescue prisoners of the death camp at Auschwitz. Memorial evening ended in the Hall of Remembrance and Sorrow.

Before the start of the evening-requiem at the entrance to the concert hall was opened the exhibition, which was presented and donated to the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War, a copy of Schindler's List. This project was initiated by the Embassy of Israel, the Israeli cultural center in Moscow, a memorial "Yad Va-shem" as part of a joint project with the charity fund "Genesis".

Evening Requiem has become the central event of the "Week of Memory" - large-scale action, which takes place from 15 to 30 January 2015 by the Government of Moscow and the Russian Jewish Congress of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, under the auspices of the Organizing Committee for the preparation of major events dedicated to the 70th anniversary victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.