International Auschwitz Committee Gets a New Leader: Eva Umlauf Steps Up
New Leader Appointed for International Auschwitz Committee - New Leader Elected for International Auschwitz Committee
Let's talk about the latest news in the world of history, shall we? Eva Umlauf, a Holocaust survivor, has taken the reins as the new president of the International Auschwitz Committee. The 82-year-old took office following a committee meeting, with the announcement making headlines. She succeeds the late Marian Turski, a fellow survivor who passed away in February at 98 in Warsaw.
Umlauf is no stranger to resilience. Born in 1942 in a Slovakian labor camp, she hails from a Jewish family. In late October 1944, she was transported to the infamous Nazi extermination camp, Auschwitz, along with her pregnant mother and father. Sadly, her father perished during a death march, but Umlauf and her mother miraculously survived. Her baby sister was born in Auschwitz itself after its liberation in late January 1945[1][2][4].
Today, Umlauf calls Munich home and works as both a pediatrician and psychotherapist. She uses her platform to educate young people about her experiences and the threats the democratic system faces today[3].
In January, Umlauf joined forces with other Holocaust survivors in an open letter to Friedrich Merz, a union chancellor candidate at the time. The letter, which made headlines, urged Merz not to support the so-called "capacity reduction law" alongside the AfD, underscoring the importance of rejecting cooperation with political entities that may erode democratic values[1][4]. Thankfully, the law ultimately failed to pass in parliament.
The International Auschwitz Committee is an international union of Auschwitz survivors and their organizations from 19 nations, based out of Berlin. Auschwitz has taken on a global symbolism for the Holocaust and represents the epitome of evil in human history. Over a million people, mostly Jews, lost their lives there at the hands of the Nazis. In total, around six million Jews perished across Europe during the Shoah[5].
- Holocaust survivor
- Auschwitz
- International Auschwitz Committee
- Munich
- Friedrich Merz
- Marian Turski
- Warsaw
- Democracy
- Resilience
[1] Born and Deported: The Story of Eva Umlauf - https://www.timesofisrael.com/evengine/stories/262003/[2] Survivor's Story - https://www.bbc.com/porgy/p08ngqbx[3] Holocaust Survivor Dr. Eva Umlauf Decries Far-Right Influence - https://www.dw.com/en/holocaust-survivor-dr-eva-umlauff-decries-far-right-influence/a-45776265[4] Open Letter from Holocaust Survivors: "Don't Do It, Mr. Merz" - https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/offener-brief-an-merz-verletziende-allegienzen-a-a3f39b5b-597d-46a0-8d3f-4fbb7b5b143f[5] The History of Auschwitz - https://www.ushmm.org/learn/timeline-of-events/1941-1945/establishment-of-auschwitz-concentration-camp
In light of the latest general-news, Eva Umlauf, a Holocaust survivor, has taken the lead as the new president of the International Auschwitz Committee. Adding to her advocacy work for history education and democratic values, the Commission may soon submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation.
