Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Today, we pause with profound sorrow and deep respect to honor the memory of the millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust—women, men, and children whose lives were cruelly taken in an atrocity that must never be forgotten. This day is also a moment to remember the suffering endured by the people of Yugoslavia during World War II, who faced unimaginable horrors in concentration camps, mass executions, and pogroms.
The 27th of January was chosen as International Holocaust Remembrance Day because, on this day in 1945, soldiers of the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the largest and most infamous of the Nazi death camps. This heroic act marked a crucial moment in the fight against fascism and signaled the beginning of the end for one of history’s darkest chapters. The role of the Soviet Union and the Red Army in liberating Auschwitz and many other parts of Europe from the grip of fascism cannot be overstated. Their sacrifices were instrumental in ending the Holocaust and the broader atrocities of the Nazi regime.
We also recall the tragic events in Yugoslavia, including the mass executions in Kragujevac, where civilians, including children, were brutally murdered, and in Sremska Mitrovica, where countless lives were extinguished. These tragedies serve as solemn reminders of the depths of human suffering caused by hatred and tyranny.
Each victim, every extinguished life, is a testament to the need for unwavering vigilance against hatred, discrimination, and violence. Let this day strengthen our commitment to preserving the memory of those who perished and to honoring those who fought against oppression, paving the way for freedom and peace.
We remember. We honor. We stand united in the pursuit of justice, peace, and humanity.
Comments