‘Glasgow Girl’ and human rights activist Amal Azzudin reflects on a recent visit to Auschwitz and explains why it’s important we don’t forget this piece of history
It’s been 70 years since since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, but it is vital that we never forget this part of history. That’s why I felt it was important to join other activists, trade unionists and anti-fascists on a recent educational trip, organised by Unite Against Fascism, to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
As a human rights activist it was important for me to visit the concentration camp and improve my knowledge about one of the most brutal and horrific tragedies in human history. I also felt that it would be vital to share the knowledge and experience gained from this trip with community members, fellow anti-fascists, and, in particular, young people as I think it is crucial that future generations are aware of history and the danger of it repeating itself.
Visiting Auschwitz was a shocking and distressful experience which will remain with me forever. When I read or heard stories about Auschwitz, I always found it disturbing. However, visiting the camp was very different from reading about it and made the scale of the horror real. I was speechless and very emotional. It is really hard to comprehend and accept that such atrocities were committed by human beings. I could not help but question humanity. The museum had bags, clothes, and various other personal belongings that were left behind by the prisoners who were killed. It was absolutely heart-breaking seeing pictures of the men, women and children.
The concentration camp tour guide was very informative and explained that in the beginning the Nazis held Polish political prisoners in Auschwitz. I was very saddened by the stories that the tour guide was telling us. I asked the tour guide how long she had worked at Auschwitz and she said 15 years. She continued by saying that she felt it was really important for her that people are aware of what had occurred in the concentration camp as some of her family members were prisoners in the camp.
In 1942 Auschwitz-Birkenau became the largest concentration camp for the murder of Jews by the Nazis where over a million men, women and children lost their lives. It is not a surprise that Auschwitz became a symbol of terror and genocide.
The rest of the trip consisted of visiting the Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz) and the Krakow ghetto ending at the Schindler’s Factory.
Even though it is a distressing experience, I would suggest that everyone should have the opportunity to visit Auschwitz. Most people are aware of what the Nazis did, but being able to see it for yourself allows you to better understand the scale of atrocities that were committed. It is frightening that there are fascists that deny the holocaust ever happened which I think is disgraceful.
And with the rise of fascists in Europe today, we must not forget the lessons history has taught us, and unite against those who only seek to divide us and incite hatred among our societies.
