Skip Navigation

Holocaust survivors urge young EU voters to shun far right

www.dw.com Holocaust survivors urge young EU voters to shun far right – DW – 06/04/2024

A group of eight Holocaust survivors drew parallels between the current political climate and that of Germany in the 1930s. Some of them condemned the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

Holocaust survivors urge young EU voters to shun far right – DW – 06/04/2024

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16189840

A group of eight Holocaust survivors drew parallels between the current political climate and that of Germany in the 1930s. Some of them condemned the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).

Eight Holocaust survivors have urged young people to shun far-right parties and vote to protect democracy at the upcoming European Union elections.

"For millions of you, the European elections are the first election in your lives. For many of us, it could be the last," read the open letter, unveiled in Berlin on Tuesday.

"We couldn't stop it back then. But you can today," the eight authors wrote.

2
2 comments
  • My fear is that thanks to Israel's behavior in Gaza and towards Palestinians in general, the impact words from Holocaust survivors may have in the minds of many may be reduced. I hope I am wrong because on atrocity doesn't make another any less atrocious.

  • This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Eight Holocaust survivors have urged young people to shun far-right parties and vote to protect democracy at the upcoming European Union elections.

    The letter was published by rights group Avaaz and signed by eight men and women aged between 81 and 102 who witnessed the Holocaust first-hand.

    "I know that there was a similar development back then as there is today: a weak democratic government and a party that rallied the people who were dissatisfied," 99-year-old Walter Frankenstein said in a video statement.

    Ruth Winkelmann, who hid from the Nazis in a shed with her mother and sister after her father was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, said she signed the letter "because the AfD is becoming too strong."

    She told the AFP news agency that the far-right party has "quite a lot in common" with the Nazis in the 1930s.

    While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society.


    The original article contains 311 words, the summary contains 159 words. Saved 49%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!