72 years since liberation at Auschwitz

Religious communities around the world today will remember the Holocaust and the lessons we learnt from it.

On this day 72 years ago the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet army in Germany, occupied by Poland.

January 27 is recognised as the international Holocaust rememberance day.

Canterbury and District Jewish community member Ian Smiler said: “Humanity must learn from the past and apply to the future.

“Germany was a modern sophisticated and cultured nation yet fell to the evil of the Holocaust, millions of people brutally murdered, whole communities wiped out.

“Unfortunately similar evils have been repeated in our lifetimes, in Africa, in former Yugoslavia and presently with the Yadizi people in the Middle East.”

A 30 minute memorial service was held at Canterbury Cathederal to mark the occasion.

Today we remember the ongoing pain and suffering from the Holocaust and the need for restoration and healing for Survivors #HMD2017

— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) January 27, 2017

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby gave an address at the service where he warns of ‘collusion of evil’ and said:

“Life goes on but the end of the killing does not mark the end of the suffering.”