Germany: Merkel opens Holocaust 'Survivors' exhibition on 75th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation

M/S German Chancellor Angela Merkel arriving at exhibition, Essen
M/S Merkel at "Survivors" art exhibition
M/S Artist Martin Schoeller at exhibition
M/S Portraits of Holocaust survivors
C/U Portrait
M/S Portraits of Holocaust survivors
M/S Portraits of Holocaust survivors
C/U Portrait
C/U Portrait
M/S Exhibition attendees and journalists
M/S Merkel at exhibition
M/S German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaking to holocaust survivor Naftali Furst
M/S Furst walking on stage
SOT, Naftali Furst, Holocaust survivor (German): "I will not forget the fear, the hunger, the cold or the separation from my parents and my brother. In the last 15 years, I have been working in a multitude of settings in Israel and Europe to commemorate the Shoah. I meet with teenagers and adults and see in these meetings the holy duty to preserve the memory of the Shoah. I hope you understand and will continue to talk about the horrible tragedy that befell my people so that such a tragedy won't be repeated."
W/S Merkel taking podium
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "We are witnessing racism and anti-Semitism, we are witnessing hatred and violence in our country. Racism and anti-Semitism are not only a disgusting attack on single citizens, but also an attack on the underlying values that our society carries and that keep our society together. The federal government knows its duty to defend our liberal democracy against racism, anti-Semitism, right-wing extremism and all other forms of group-based misanthropy. This is why we have passed a multitude of measures in the past October, to really make sure, or better make sure that right-wing extremism and hate crimes have no chance."
M/S Journalist taking photo *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (German): "And so, this exhibition sets a special mark shortly before the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the 27th of January, on which every year the victims of the Shoah are remembered. But also beyond commemoration days our thoughts remain with the victims and survivors, with their burden of remembrance. We can and must keep the memory awake as memory also makes us aware of the responsibility that belongs to all of us and from which no one can withdraw. Namely, the responsibility to shape a human future."
W/S Merkel ends speech
SCRIPT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel participated in the opening of an art exhibition by German artist Martin Schoeller in Essen on Tuesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.
"This exhibition sets a special mark shortly before the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the 27th of January, on which every year the victims of the Shoah are remembered," Merkel said.
The exhibition "Survivors. Faces of Life after the Holocaust" features 75 photograph portraits of Holocaust survivors, a project by the world-renowned photographer Martin Schoeller.
The German Chancellor said during her speech "We are witnessing racism and anti-Semitism, we are witnessing hatred and violence in our country."
She added, "The federal government knows of its duty to defend our liberal democracy against racism, anti-Semitism, right-wing extremism and all other forms of group-based misanthropy. This is why we have passed a multitude of measures in the past October, to rally make sure, or better make sure that right-wing extremism and hate crimes have no chance."
During World War II 1.1 million people, of whom about 90 per cent were Jews, were killed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. On July 2, 1947, the Polish government decreed that the camp would become a state memorial to the victims of Nazism, a purpose it has served ever since.