On May 4, 2025, Dachau, Germany commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous concentration camp with solemn reflections from survivors, liberators, and families. Lockered Gahs, a 100-year-old veteran from the U.S. Army's 42nd Infantry Division, vividly recalled the horrors he witnessed upon entering the camp, amplifying the significant meaning behind their fight during World War II. He expressed how the realization of what they were truly battling for only hit him as they stepped through the camp's gates, where starved and tortured prisoners awaited rescue.
80th Anniversary of Dachau Liberation: A Moment of Reflection and Remembrance
80th Anniversary of Dachau Liberation: A Moment of Reflection and Remembrance
As survivors and liberators gather to honor the past, Germany faces the challenges of an evolving narrative surrounding its history.
During the memorial ceremony, Jean Lafaurie, a 101-year-old camp survivor, shared harrowing accounts of the brutality the inmates faced, emphasizing the emotional weight of remembrance for both attendees and future generations. The gathering underscores a critical moment in German history as the last living witnesses of this dark chapter begin to pass, while also addressing the rising presence of far-right ideologies that threaten to distort the narrative of the past.
