December 23, 2010 – New York – AJC has commended the German government for its generous donation to support the maintenance and modernization of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial at the former German concentration camp.

The German government’s $80 million donation to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation “is a major contribution to memory of the Holocaust,” AJC Executive Director David Harris and Berlin Director Deidre Berger wrote in a letter to German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle.

“The buildings that will now be repaired will serve as silent sentinels for generations to come of the depravity that lurks in the human spirit if we do not stand guard against the forces of hatred,” the AJC letter stated.

The full text of AJC’s letter to Minister Westerwelle follows:

December 17, 2010

Dear Minister Westerwelle,

We noted with great appreciation the recent announcement that Germany is donating 80 million dollars to support the maintenance and modernization of the memorial site at the former German concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

The agreement signed by you and by representatives of the German federal states with the newly founded Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation is a major contribution to memory of the Holocaust.  The buildings that will now be repaired and reconstructed will serve as silent sentinels for generations to come of the depravity that lurks in the human spirit if we do not stand guard against the forces of hatred.

At the signing of the agreement, you commented that the commitment underscores Germany’s “historical responsibility to keep the remembrance of the Holocaust alive and to convey [this remembrance] to future generations.” As we lose the last witnesses, it is critical indeed that younger generations remain aware of their history and responsibility.

In that regard, we would like to extend our appreciation as well for the support of the German Foreign Office for the pilot initiative being coordinated by the American Jewish Committee for the protection and memorialization of Holocaust mass grave sites.  The protection of former concentration camp sites and sites of mass shootings is both a duty to those whose lives were cruelly ended and an obligation to prevent the erasure of memory in upcoming generations. We thank you for the unflagging support of you and your highly committed team to these initiatives. 

We look forward to an opportunity to discuss these topics and other issues during our upcoming visit to Berlin next month.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Respectfully,

David Harris                                        Deidre Berger