Marian Turski, Renowned Holocaust Survivor, Passes Away at 98

Marian Turski, born Moshe Turbowicz in 1926, faced horrific experiences during World War II, including time spent in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp and subsequent death marches. After the war, he became a dedicated historian and journalist, influencing how the Holocaust is remembered globally.

Polish Holocaust survivor, historian, and journalist Marian Turski has passed away at the age of 98. Turski, who was born in 1926, survived the devastating experiences of the Lodz Ghetto and the notorious extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, enduring two death marches as a teenager in the process.

Following the war, Turski devoted his life to the preservation of history, journalism, and Holocaust education. Notably, he co-founded Warsaw’s renowned Jewish history museum and held the position of president for the International Auschwitz Committee. He garnered significant global attention in 2020 during the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where he warned that the memories of such atrocities must not fade. He cautioned that "Auschwitz did not fall from the sky" and emphasized the risks of apathy: "If you are indifferent, before you know it, another Auschwitz will come out of the blue for you or your descendants."

His life began in the Polish city of Lodz where, after the Nazi occupation in 1940, he and his family were forcibly moved to the ghetto established in the city. In 1944, Turski's family was devastated when his parents and younger brother were deported to Auschwitz, just weeks before Turski himself arrived in one of the final transports.

Tragically, his father and brother were murdered in gas chambers, while his mother was sent to work in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. As Soviet troops advanced in January 1945, Turski and tens of thousands of other prisoners were subjected to death marches, ultimately landing at the Terezin concentration camp, where he was liberated while gravely ill.

In the aftermath of this harrowing experience, Turski expressed feelings of amnesia regarding his experiences at Auschwitz, revealing that although he bore the physical reminder of his time there, he struggled to recall the full extent of what he had endured, saying, "Everything else was blurred, though." Despite having the opportunity to leave Poland, Turski chose to return in hopes of contributing to the rebuilding of a socialist Poland.

Educating himself in history at the University of Wrocław during this period, he transitioned into journalism, becoming the editor of Polityka magazine’s history section in 1958 and emerging as an influential writer and historian.

Reflecting on the current global climate of rising antisemitism, Turski's contributions and warnings resonate deeply. He participated in many commemorative events, including the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation in January 2025, where he reiterated the dangers of hate and indifference.

The Jewish community in Poland mourns his passing, with Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, calling him a "moral voice and mentor." Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted how Turski's words echoed the pressing need for vigilance against prejudice in these challenging times, labeling his messaging as the "11th Commandment" for society.

Polityka magazine celebrated Turski’s legacy, calling him "an extraordinary man, a witness to the ages, our friend," whose insights impacted audiences worldwide.