The Legacy: Speeches by Survivors in Auschwitz

The publication contains a comprehensive collection of accessible speeches by survivors that have been given at the central commemorative events at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum since 1995. These words of remembrance and warning are among the most important voices of the present day.  

The volume, edited by Prof. Sascha Feuchert and Aleksandra Bak-Zawalski, brings together around 60 speeches in three languages – Polish, German and English. The texts paint a multi-layered panorama: from short, poignant warnings to in-depth reflections on psychological, educational and political issues. 

The publication is edited by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and was made possible by financial support from the Research Center for Holocaust Literature and the Hans and Berthold Finkelstein Foundation.

The publication was presented on 6 November 2025 at the Hessian State Representation in Berlin. The event included a welcome speech by Dr Katharina Brauer, a greeting by Dr Eva Umlauf, Auschwitz survivor and President of the International Auschwitz Committee, and a staged reading of selected texts by actor Sven Görtz. This was followed by a discussion between Prof. Dr. Sascha Feuchert, Aleksandra Bak-Zawalski and Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committees. The event concluded with a get-together.

A second edition featuring the speeches from the commemoration ceremony on January 27, 2025, is planned for early 2026.