80th Anniversary of Lublin-Majdanek Camp Liberation

Pope Francis' visit to Auschwitz during his 2016 trip to Poland highlighted the haunting legacy of the Holocaust, where over a million Jews and countless others were systematically exterminated. The site, now a memorial, serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed, as the pope engaged in silent prayer and reflection in significant areas, including the cell of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Meanwhile, the documentary 'The Commandant’s Shadow' explores the generational guilt experienced by the family of Auschwitz's commandant, juxtaposing their idyllic memories against the backdrop of the horrors their ancestor oversaw. Additionally, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Lublin-Majdanek camp went largely unrecognized in Germany, despite its historical significance as an early site of Nazi extermination. Majdanek's liberation revealed the stark realities of the Holocaust, with thousands of victims found in dire conditions. The historical narratives surrounding these sites continue to provoke discussions about memory, responsibility, and the impact of past atrocities on present generations.