Latest news with #ChristianWulff
Euronews
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Ceremony commemorates 80th anniversary of Buchenwald camp liberation
ADVERTISEMENT Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp on Sunday as one of the country's former presidents warned against 'radicalisation and a worldwide shift to the right.' The governor of the state of Thuringia, Mario Voigt, and former German President Christian Wulff spoke at a ceremony in the city of Weimar, near Buchenwald, attended by scores of people, including several Holocaust survivors from across Europe. Voigt – whose state includes Buchenwald – called it a 'place of systematic dehumanisation' and said that everything that happened at the death camp was 'designed to break the human spirit and dignity.' The Buchenwald concentration camp was established in 1937. More than 55,000 of the almost 300,000 inmates held at the camp and its satellites were killed by Nazis or died as a result of hunger or medical experiments before the camp's liberation on 11 April, 1945. In the run-up to the memorial event, Israeli officials objected to a planned commemoration speech by philosopher Omri Boehm, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor and a known critic of the Israeli government and its actions in Gaza, prompting organisers to withdraw the invitation. Former German President Christian Wulff gives a speech at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, Sunday, April 6, 2025 Bodo Schackow/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa ( Alle Rechte vorbehalten Wulff issued a stark warning about the current global political situation and the rightward shift in politics that has been taking Europe and much of the world by storm, likening it to the Nazi era. 'Due to the brutalisation and radicalisation and a worldwide shift to the right, I can now — and this makes me uneasy — imagine more clearly how this could have happened back then,' said Wulff referring to the developments leading up to Nazi power consolidation. He called for active commitment to democracy and the preservation of humanity. 'We bear a permanent, ongoing, eternal responsibility from this because evil must never be allowed to prevail again.' The former German president criticised the rise in anti-immigration sentiment, championed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He said those who 'trivialise' the party 'are ignoring the fact that the Alternative for Germany's ideology is creating a breeding ground for people to feel uncomfortable in Germany and that they are actually in real danger.' Naftali Fürst speaks at the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, Sunday, April 6, 2025 Bodo Schackow/(c) Copyright 2025, dpa ( Alle Rechte vorbehalten 92-year-old Holocaust survivor Naftali Fürst spoke at the wreath-laying ceremony held at the camp's former roll call area. He spent ages 9-12 in four different concentration camps, including the infamous Auschwitz. 'There are by now only very few of us left. Soon, we will pass the baton of remembrance on to you for good. In doing so, we are entrusting you with a historic responsibility,' said Fürst addressing the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors. 'Remember on our behalf what you have learned from us. Because you are the witnesses of the witnesses,' he added. 'Keep coming back to this place, to Buchenwald, where civilization was reduced to zero. Remain vigilant in our name, and in memory of us,' he said.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-president hits out at German right at Buchenwald anniversary event
A memorial service was held on Sunday to commemorate the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp near the central German city of Weimar 80 years ago. Music and documents produced in secrecy by its inmates were presented at the service. In his address, former German president Christian Wulff drew a comparison between the Nazis and today's right-wing radicalism. "Based on the coarsening and radicalization, and a global shift to the right, I can now – and this makes me uneasy – imagine more clearly how this it could happen at the time," he said. Wulff called for active engagement in favour of democracy. The current generation bore permanent responsibility for ensuring that evil should never again be victorious, he said. The former president expressed direct criticism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the far-right party that came second in recent elections and continues to surge in opinion polls. "Those who play down the AfD are ignoring the fact that the AfD is preparing the ground through its ideology for people in Germany to feel uncertain and are in fact concretely in danger," he said. Survivors of the camp were invited to attend the service at the Weimarhalle, along with relatives and descendants. In the afternoon, a wreath-laying ceremony is planned at the former roll call square of the camp. Naftali Fürst, the president of the International Committee of Buchenwald-Dora and Commandos, was also scheduled to speak at the memorial. Fürst, 92, survived the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps as a child. In the run-up to the memorial service, a dispute came to light between the memorial site and the Israeli embassy over a planned speech by a philosopher who is viewed critically by the embassy. Starting in the summer of 1937, the Nazis deported more than 280,000 people to the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar and its 139 subcamps. Some 56,000 people were murdered or died of hunger, disease, forced labour or medical experiments.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former German president warns of far right at 80th anniversary of Buchenwald liberation
VIENNA (AP) — Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi's Buchenwald concentration camp on Sunday, with warnings against global 'radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right' The governor of the state of Thuringia Mario Voigt and former German President Christian Wulff spoke at a ceremony in the city of Weimar, attended by scores, including several Holocaust survivors from across Europe. Voigt said that Buchenwald was 'a place of systematic dehumanization' and that everything that happened at the death camp 'was designed to break the human spirit and its dignity.' He also said that the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel showed that 'the intention to exterminate Jews is not a thing of the past.' Voigt was referring to the attack by the Palestinian militant group that left some 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, sparking the war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 50,695 Palestinians and wounded 115,338, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In his speech, former German President Christian Wulff issued a stark warning about the current global political situation. 'Due to the brutalization and radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right, I can now — and this makes me uneasy — imagine more clearly how this could have happened back then,' Wulff said, referring to Nazi terror and the developments leading up to it. He called for active commitment to democracy and the preservation of humanity. He said: 'We bear a permanent, ongoing, eternal responsibility from this because evil must never be allowed to prevail again.' Wulff also criticized the anti-immigrant and far-right Alternative for Germany party. He said that those who 'trivialize' the far-right party 'are ignoring the fact that the Alternative for Germany's ideology is creating a breeding ground for people to feel uncomfortable in Germany and that they are actually in real danger.' In the run-up to the memorial event, Israeli officials objected to a planned commemoration speech by philosopher Omri Boehm, a grandson of a Holocaust survivor and a known critic of the Israeli government and its actions in Gaza. This prompted organizers to withdraw the invitation. Buchenwald, established in 1937, was located in what today is the eastern German state of Thuringia. More than 56,000 of the 280,000 inmates at Buchenwald and satellite camps were murdered by the Nazis or died as a result of hunger, illness or medical experiments before it was liberated by U.S. Army troops on April 11, 1945. A wreath-laying ceremony will follow Sunday afternoon at the camp's former roll call area.
Washington Post
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Former German president warns of far right at 80th anniversary of Buchenwald liberation
VIENNA — Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi's Buchenwald concentration camp on Sunday, with warnings against global 'radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right' The governor of the state of Thuringia Mario Voigt and former German President Christian Wulff spoke at a ceremony in the city of Weimar, attended by scores, including several Holocaust survivors from across Europe. Voigt said that Buchenwald was 'a place of systematic dehumanization' and that everything that happened at the death camp 'was designed to break the human spirit and its dignity.' He also said that the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel showed that 'the intention to exterminate Jews is not a thing of the past.' Voigt was referring to the attack by the Palestinian militant group that left some 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, sparking the war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 50,695 Palestinians and wounded 115,338, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In his speech, former German President Christian Wulff issued a stark warning about the current global political situation. 'Due to the brutalization and radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right, I can now — and this makes me uneasy — imagine more clearly how this could have happened back then,' Wulff said, referring to Nazi terror and the developments leading up to it. He called for active commitment to democracy and the preservation of humanity. He said: 'We bear a permanent, ongoing, eternal responsibility from this because evil must never be allowed to prevail again.' Wulff also criticized the anti-immigrant and far-right Alternative for Germany party. He said that those who 'trivialize' the far-right party 'are ignoring the fact that the Alternative for Germany's ideology is creating a breeding ground for people to feel uncomfortable in Germany and that they are actually in real danger.' In the run-up to the memorial event, Israeli officials objected to a planned commemoration speech by philosopher Omri Boehm, a grandson of a Holocaust survivor and a known critic of the Israeli government and its actions in Gaza. This prompted organizers to withdraw the invitation. Buchenwald, established in 1937, was located in what today is the eastern German state of Thuringia. More than 56,000 of the 280,000 inmates at Buchenwald and satellite camps were murdered by the Nazis or died as a result of hunger, illness or medical experiments before it was liberated by U.S. Army troops on April 11, 1945. A wreath-laying ceremony will follow Sunday afternoon at the camp's former roll call area.
Associated Press
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former German president warns of far right at 80th anniversary of Buchenwald liberation
VIENNA (AP) — Germany marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi's Buchenwald concentration camp on Sunday, with warnings against global 'radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right' The governor of the state of Thuringia Mario Voigt and former German President Christian Wulff spoke at a ceremony in the city of Weimar, attended by scores, including several Holocaust survivors from across Europe. Voigt said that Buchenwald was 'a place of systematic dehumanization' and that everything that happened at the death camp 'was designed to break the human spirit and its dignity.' He also said that the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel showed that 'the intention to exterminate Jews is not a thing of the past.' Voigt was referring to the attack by the Palestinian militant group that left some 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, sparking the war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 50,695 Palestinians and wounded 115,338, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In his speech, former German President Christian Wulff issued a stark warning about the current global political situation. 'Due to the brutalization and radicalization and a worldwide shift to the right, I can now — and this makes me uneasy — imagine more clearly how this could have happened back then,' Wulff said, referring to Nazi terror and the developments leading up to it. He called for active commitment to democracy and the preservation of humanity. He said: 'We bear a permanent, ongoing, eternal responsibility from this because evil must never be allowed to prevail again.' Wulff also criticized the anti-immigrant and far-right Alternative for Germany party. He said that those who 'trivialize' the far-right party 'are ignoring the fact that the Alternative for Germany's ideology is creating a breeding ground for people to feel uncomfortable in Germany and that they are actually in real danger.' In the run-up to the memorial event, Israeli officials objected to a planned commemoration speech by philosopher Omri Boehm, a grandson of a Holocaust survivor and a known critic of the Israeli government and its actions in Gaza. This prompted organizers to withdraw the invitation. Buchenwald, established in 1937, was located in what today is the eastern German state of Thuringia. More than 56,000 of the 280,000 inmates at Buchenwald and satellite camps were murdered by the Nazis or died as a result of hunger, illness or medical experiments before it was liberated by U.S. Army troops on April 11, 1945.
