One of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz has warned that the antisemitism seen today is “frighteningly similar” to that in the 1940s – eighty years on from the camp’s liberation.
Tova Friedman, 86, survived a campaign of violence and mass murder that reduced the Jewish population in her home town – Tomaszow Mazowiecki in Poland – from 15,000 to 200.
She told GB News: “The world is in crisis. It’s very scary to watch the antisemitism spreading especially on campuses where there’s supposed to be freedom of speech.”
“People are marching against Israel, against Jews. And it’s frightening that the intellectual people have joined the movement. That’s exactly what happened in the 40s when they burnt the books,” she added.
One of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz has warned that the antisemitism seen today is “frighteningly similar” to that in the 1940s – eighty years on from the camp’s liberation
GB News
Friedman was five-years-old when she was bundled into a cattle truck and taken to the Auschwitz concentration camp with her mother in June 1944.
“The first shocking thing was that the suitcase that we packed so carefully was taken away from us immediately” she said, recalling entering Auschwitz.
“We were undressed, naked. The smell was overwhelming. And I asked, what is that? She pointed to the smoke. She didn’t have to explain to me. The burning of the bodies.”
Just before her sixth birthday, Friedman was among a group of children marched to the gas chamber.
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Friedman was five-years-old when she was bundled into a cattle truck and taken to the Auschwitz concentration camp with her mother (pictured on left) in June 1944
GB News
After waiting there for hours, cold and naked, they were led out again without explanation.
She remembered thinking: “Oh they couldn’t do it this time, they’ll do it next time. This was our expectation, if you’re Jewish, if you’re a child, you have to die.”
In January 1945, hiding among dead bodies with her mother, the pair were rescued by Russian troops whom she describes as “angels.”
Eighty years on, Friedman believes now is more important than ever to mark the liberation.
Eighty years on, Tova Friedman believes now is more important than ever to mark the liberation
GB News
She told GB News: “We must remember those that have been murdered. We can’t just let millions of people just disappear.”
“We can’t allow this to happen because if we do, it may happen again. It has to be a warning,” she added.
However, Friedman is adamant that history will not repeat itself: “Never, ever, never, ever. We Jews, we Israelis will not allow it.
“We are much stronger, We’re much wiser. And we have the free world on our side also.”