January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H149 powerful symbol of victory over tyranny. His personal congratulations to Mr. Yushchenko Whereas on January 24, 2005, the United inauguration ends a bitter chapter in Ukraine’s and wish him all the best as he works to bring Nations General Assembly, in response to a history and paves the way for the country to Ukraine into the community of democratic na- resolution proposed by Australia, Canada, become a democratic leader in the former So- New Zealand, Russia, the United States, and tions. As freedom and democracy descends the European Union, convened its first-ever viet Union. on Ukraine, I hope that their peaceful transi- special session marking the liberation of As a founding member and former Co-Chair tion to a modern democratic country will serve Auschwitz and other concentration camps on of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I have as a further catalyst for the growing inter- the 60th anniversary of that event; regularly spoken out in favor of a democratic national movement to bring liberty to all peo- Whereas on January 27, 2005, the Govern- Ukraine. In 2002, I introduced a resolution urg- ples of the world that still suffer in the shad- ment of Poland will host a state ceremony at ing the Government of Ukraine to ensure a ows of tyranny and dictatorship. Auschwitz/Oswiecim, Poland, to mark the democratic, transparent, and fair election proc- Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have anniversary of the liberation of the camps in ess leading up to the March 2002 parliamen- which the Presidents of Israel, Germany, Po- no further requests for time, and I land, and Russia, and the Vice President of tary elections. This resolution passed over- yield back the balance of our time. the United States, and leaders of many other whelmingly and let the Ukrainian government Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I have no countries will participate; know that the U.S. would not simply rubber- further requests for time, and I, too, Whereas January 27 of each year is the of- stamp aid to the Ukraine without also consid- yield back the balance of my time. ficial Holocaust Memorial Day in many Eu- ering the serious issues involved in Ukraine’s The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ropean countries, including Denmark, Esto- democratic development. SHIMKUS). The question is on the mo- nia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and the Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, the former tion offered by the gentleman from Illi- United Kingdom, and has been designated by Israel as a National Day to Combat Anti- Ukrainian government continued to turn a nois (Mr. HYDE) that the House suspend blind-eye to the international community’s in- Semitism; and the rules and agree to the concurrent Whereas the Department of State in the sistence on truly democratic elections. The resolution, H. Con. Res. 16, as amended. Report on Global Anti-Semitism transmitted November 21 runoff presidential race was The question was taken. to Congress in December 2004 noted that plagued by voter fraud, intimidation, and wide- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the ‘‘anti-Semitism in Europe increased signifi- spread use of counterfeit ballots. However, a opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of cantly in recent years’’, ‘‘Holocaust denial truly significant event occurred after Viktor those present have voted in the affirm- and Holocaust minimization efforts’’ have Yushchenko’s opponent was initially declared ative. found increasingly overt acceptance in a number of Middle Eastern countries, and the winner. Thousands of Ukrainians took to Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I the streets in protest, surrounding the govern- anti-Semitism has appeared ‘‘in countries demand the yeas and nays. where historically or currently there are few ment buildings and refusing to leave until a The yeas and nays were ordered. or even no Jews’’: Now, therefore, be it new and fair election was announced. Their The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Resolved, That the House of Representa- faith and determination was signified by the ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the tives— donning of orange scarves, and came to be Chair’s prior announcement, further (1) recalls with gratitude the sacrifices known as the Orange Revolution. It was in- proceedings on this motion will be made by Allied soldiers, as well as partisans and underground fighters, whose service and strumental in forcing the Ukrainian government postponed. to hold new elections on December 26, which dedication resulted in the defeat of the Nazi f regime and the liberation of Auschwitz and Yushchenko won handedly. I want to com- COMMENDING COUNTRIES AND OR- other concentration camps during World War mend the Ukrainian people for their commit- II; ment to ending their political crisis in a peace- GANIZATIONS FOR MARKING (2) expresses gratitude to those individuals ful and democratic way. 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERA- and organizations that assisted and cared for The United States Congress stands ready to TION OF AUSCHWITZ the survivors of Nazi brutality and helped work with President Yushchenko as he under- Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to those survivors establish new lives; takes the political and economic reforms nec- suspend the rules and agree to the reso- (3) commends those countries that are essary to bring about a bright future for marking the 60th anniversary of the libera- lution (H. Res. 39) commending coun- tion of Auschwitz, as well as the United Na- Ukraine. I am hopeful, Mr. Speaker, that Presi- tries and organizations for marking the tions General Assembly and other inter- dent Bush will soon invite President 60th anniversary of the liberation of national organizations, for honoring the vic- Yushchenko to Washington so that Congress Auschwitz and urging a strengthening tims of the Holocaust and using this tragic can congratulate him and hear firsthand his vi- of the fight against racism, intoler- anniversary to increase awareness of the sion for bringing about a reformed Ukraine ance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimina- Holocaust; dedicated to freedom and justice. tion, and anti-Semitism. (4) urges all countries and peoples to Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I was The Clerk read as follows: strengthen their efforts to fight against rac- regrettably delayed in my return to Wash- ism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, dis- H. RES. 39 ington, DC, and therefore unable to be on the crimination, and anti-Semitism; and House Floor for rollcall votes 8 and 9. Whereas on January 27, 1945, the Nazi con- (5) urges governments and educators Had I been here I would have voted ‘‘aye’’ centration camp at Auschwitz, including throughout the world to teach the lessons of Birkenau and other related camps near the the Holocaust in order that future genera- for rollcall vote 8, on H. Con. Res. 16—Con- Polish city of Oswiecim, was liberated by tions will understand that racial, ethnic, and gratulating the people of the Ukraine for con- elements of the Soviet Army under the com- religious intolerance and prejudice can lead ducting a democratic, transparent, and fair mand of Field Marshal Ivan Konev; to the genocide carried out in camps such as runoff presidential election on December 26, Whereas, according to the United States Auschwitz. 2004, and congratulating Victor Yushchenko Holocaust Memorial Museum, at a minimum The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- on his election as President of Ukraine and his 1,300,000 people were deported to Auschwitz ant to the rule, the gentleman from Il- between 1940 and 1945, and of these, at least commitment to democracy and reform. linois (Mr. HYDE) and the gentleman 1,100,000 were murdered at that camp; The voice of the Ukrainian people spoke from California (Mr. LANTOS) each will loudly on December 26th as Ukrainians united Whereas an estimated 6,000,000 Jews, more than 60 percent of the pre-World War II Jew- control 20 minutes. and re-affirmed their commitment to reform, ish population of Europe, were murdered by The Chair recognizes the gentleman democracy, and further Trans-Atlantic co- the Nazis and their collaborators at Ausch- from Illinois (Mr. HYDE). operation with their selection of Mr. witz and elsewhere in Europe; GENERAL LEAVE Yushchenko as President. The peaceful, or- Whereas in addition, hundreds of thou- Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- ange-clad demonstrators who rallied through- sands of civilians of Polish, Roma, and other mous consent that all Members may out Ukraine and helped achieve this historic nationalities, including in particular handi- have 5 legislative days within which to moment should be an inspiration to all of us. capped and retarded individuals, homo- revise and extend their remarks and in- And Mr. Yushchenko’s peaceful inauguration, sexuals, political, intellectual, labor, and re- clude extraneous material on H. Res. and smooth transition to power, displays yet ligious leaders, all of whom the Nazis consid- ered ‘‘undesirable’’, as well as Soviet and 39, the resolution under consideration. another positive sign for a bright future for the other prisoners of war, perished at Auschwitz The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Ukrainians and sets an exceptional example of and elsewhere in Europe; objection to the request of the gen- the power of freedom and democracy for the Whereas the complex of concentration and tleman from Illinois? entire region. death camps at Auschwitz has come to sym- There was no objection. As a senior Member of the House Inter- bolize the brutality and inhumanity of the Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- national Relations Committee, I extend my Holocaust; self such time as I may consume.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:54 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.016 H25PT1 H150 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 Mr. Speaker, it is, of course, difficult Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Holocaust, will be members of this del- to describe the horrors of the death my time. egation. camp at Auschwitz, the 60th anniver- Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. Speaker, this resolution today sary of whose liberation occurs this myself such time as I may consume. and the commemorative activities all week. One wonders if it is even appro- First, I want to express my sincere this week are not merely remembering priate to try. A commemorative read- thanks to my friend, the gentleman the horror of the distant past. Unfortu- ing widely used in the Jewish commu- from Illinois (Mr. HYDE), the distin- nately, the memories of mankind are nity suggests refraining ‘‘from dwelling guished chairman of the Committee on all too short and new generations have on the deeds of evil ones lest we defame International Relations, for his stead- been born who cannot remember, and the image of God in which man was fast support for this important resolu- unfortunately have not been taught, created.’’ tion and for the ideas and values on about these horrors. Rather, it is better when marking which it is based and for his efforts to A recent survey reported that 63 per- this anniversary to allow ourselves to bring it to the floor today. I also want cent of passersby on a street in Or- be directed forward, to be more in- to thank him for his powerful and mov- lando, Florida, had no idea what spired by a recollection of the libera- ing statement. Auschwitz was. A survey in Britain re- tion of the camps and heroic deeds of Mr. Speaker, I spent yesterday at the ported that 45 percent of the respond- combat and resistance that eventually General Assembly of the United Na- ents had never heard of Auschwitz. We defeated the Nazis than we are repulsed tions which met in extraordinary ses- are all too familiar with the recent by the Nazis’ deeds. sion to mark the 60th anniversary of controversy over Prince Harry appear- This pending resolution is drafted by the liberation of Auschwitz, one of the ing at a party wearing a uniform with my esteemed colleague, the gentleman horror camps of Hitler, and I had the an arm band emblazoned with the Nazi from California (Mr. LANTOS), the opportunity of meeting with delegates swastika. Mr. Speaker, the conditions that led ranking Democratic member of our from scores of countries across the to the Holocaust are still very much committee, and it expresses sentiments globe which came to New York to pay with us today. Just 3 weeks ago, as that I trust are widely shared in the their tribute to innocent victims and mandated by my legislation adopted by House: the heroic liberators of Nazi death this body last fall, the Department of That we recognize that we should camps. State submitted to us its first annual fight against racism, intolerance, big- The special session had the strong ‘‘Report on Global Anti-Semitism.’’ Its otry, prejudice, discrimination and support of my friend, United Nations findings, in the context of the com- anti-Semitism which, if unchecked, Secretary General Kofi Annan. I should memoration of the 60th anniversary of can lead to mass murder; mention that there are 191 members of the liberation of Auschwitz, were That we thank the liberators of the the United Nations, and for a long chilling: ‘‘Hatred of Jews is on the in- camps and those who cared for the sur- time, many of us have made special ef- crease by hate mongers of all types; vivors of the Nazi death machine; forts to have all of them support the And that we commend those states anti-Israel sentiment crosses the line calling of this extraordinary session. between criticism of Israeli policies which now, at last, are willing to rec- Over 150 countries have responded in ognize an anniversary of the liberation and anti-Semitism; Holocaust denial the affirmative, and I will put in the and Holocaust minimization find in- of the camps in a body such as the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD what I can only United Nations General Assembly. creasingly overt acceptance as sanc- refer to as a roll call of shame and ha- tioned historical discourse in a number The administration and the govern- tred of those who failed to recognize ments of the allies in World War II and of Middle Eastern countries.’’ that 6 million innocent people were put The report also identifies ‘‘the recent of the European Union deserve our to death by Hitler, and some countries phenomenon of anti-Semitism appear- thanks for their efforts to arrange for a have chosen not to pay honor to their ing in countries where historically or session of the U.N. General Assembly memory and tribute to the heroic lib- currently there are no Jews.’’ to commemorate this anniversary, and erators of the death camps. Mr. Speaker, this chilling report and I also thank the U.N. Secretary Gen- b 1445 the shocking lack of knowledge about eral for his important, personal sup- the Holocaust only reaffirm the impor- port for the special session and for his After a moment of silence in memory tance of our resolution today and the remarks yesterday. of the more than 6 million victims of importance of the educational events Yesterday’s U.N. meeting did not Nazi brutality, delegates from nations that are taking place in Auschwitz and take place on January 27, the precise around the world paid tribute to our elsewhere around the globe. anniversary of the liberation of Ausch- and other allied troops who made ulti- Our resolution calls for governments witz, because many of the leaders par- mate sacrifices to defeat the Nazi re- and teachers to use this occasion to ticipating at the U.N. are traveling to gime and to liberate the innocent vic- speak to young people about the un- Auschwitz for a special commemora- tims in these death camps. They also speakable brutality of the Holocaust: tion at that site, where well over a mil- honored those who helped the survivors the gas chambers and all they imply. lion souls perished. of Nazi brutality to return to civilized Not because we are remembering the I commend the President for asking life and reaffirmed their commitment past, but because it is vital to our own Vice President CHENEY to lead the that such a nightmare will never again future that we remember why Ausch- American delegation to that com- be repeated. witz happened, why the horrors of the memoration. The President dem- The General Assembly session Holocaust occurred, and why we must onstrated additional insight by naming marked the beginning of this week of fight bigotry, intolerance, racism, and Mrs. Lynne Cheney, as well as our solemn observances around the world anti-Semitism in order to make the friends, the gentleman from California commemorating the unspeakable trag- world safer and better and more civ- (Mr. LANTOS) and his wife Annette edy of the Holocaust. The final event ilized for our children and our grand- Tillemann Lantos, both Holocaust sur- will take place the day after tomorrow, children. vivors, among the other members of January 27, at Auschwitz. The Presi- Yesterday, I had occasion at the the delegation. dent of Poland, Aleksander United Nations to point out that geno- When the House passes this resolu- Kwasniewski, will host an inter- cides are not just matters of events of tion, it will endow the delegation with national assembly, including the Presi- 60 years ago. In Cambodia, in Rwanda, a specific sense of the House for it to dent of Israel, President of Russia, and and as we meet here today in Darfur, convey to the others participating in a host of other heads of state and gov- there is a genocide going on; and it is the commemoration at Auschwitz. I ernment. long overdue for all governments and know that the entire delegation will Vice President and Mrs. Cheney will all international organizations and all represent the highest values of our Na- lead the United States delegation on of us as individuals to take responsi- tion with great skill and sensitivity, this occasion; and I am deeply honored bility to terminate the ongoing night- and I wish them Godspeed on their mis- that my wife, Annette, and I, along mare. I urge all of my colleagues to sion. with Elie Wiesel, the conscience of the support my resolution.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:54 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.010 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H151 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of OSCE’s 55 countries, and really hail to Hitler, the Hail Hitler salute. my time. throughout the world. I am very glad Seemingly normal, everyday people Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am very that the Global Anti-Semitism Aware- who, whether they knew it or not, were pleased to yield such time as he may ness Act of 2004, which the gentleman buying into this extermination cam- consume to the distinguished gen- from California (Mr. LANTOS), the gen- paign that is the most horrific in all of tleman from New Jersey (Mr. SMITH), tleman from Illinois (Mr. HYDE), and I human history. and one of the leading crusaders for and Senator VOINOVICH and the gen- We would hope that when the Par- human rights. tleman from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) all liamentary Assembly comes to Wash- Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. worked so hard to enact, now has given ington in July that the 220-plus mem- Speaker, I thank the distinguished us its first installment, including a bers of Parliaments from each of the chairman for yielding me this time and very comprehensive report, which the countries will spend at least half a day for his leadership on this resolution. I gentleman from California (Mr. LAN- going through the Holocaust Museum also want to thank the gentleman from TOS) just read from, and which I would to remember so that the past does not California (Mr. LANTOS), who along like to make a part of the RECORD as become prologue. with his wife is a survivor of the Holo- well. I would also point out to my col- caust. He is to be commended for his Members need to read this, Mr. leagues that my own sense of Holo- clear and unmistakable and nonambig- Speaker. Anti-Semitism is on the rise, caust remembrance and education uous condemnation of these horrific oc- and it must be countered. A tourniquet began when I was a young teenager, currences that occurred 60 years ago must be put on this hate every time it and a man who used to visit a store and before; and for his leadership today reappears. right next to my family’s sporting in Congress and around the world on Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, will the goods store who was a survivor himself. behalf of the plight of Jews, who are gentleman yield? I will never forget when he rolled up still subjected to a gross anti-Semitism Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I will be his sleeve one day and showed us that all over the world. happy to yield to the gentleman from tattooed mark, the number. He was one Mr. Speaker, perhaps no other single Maryland. of the lucky ones, like our good friend word evokes the horrors of the Holo- Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank and colleague, the gentleman from caust as much as the name Auschwitz, the gentleman for yielding. First of all, California (Mr. LANTOS), who survived the most notorious death camp in the I want to congratulate him on the ex- this terrible time when hell was in ses- history of humanity. On January 27, traordinary work he has done in lead- sion. the Government of Poland will mark ing the Commission on Security and So, again, this is another one of the liberation of that camp by the So- Cooperation in Europe on behalf of the those issues that we all are deeply con- viet Army some 60 years ago. Leaders Congress and on behalf of the American cerned about. There is no division be- from across the globe, including our people known as the Helsinki Commis- tween Democrat or Republican. And Vice President DICK CHENEY, will right- sion. The gentleman from New Jersey again I want to thank the gentleman ly and solemnly remember the victims (Mr. SMITH) has been a stalwart, stead- from Illinois (Mr. HYDE) for his leader- of Auschwitz and the sacrifices of those fast, strong voice on behalf of making ship on this as well. It has been ex- who fought against Nazism. sure that we confront anti-Semitism; traordinary. This resolution, H. Res. 39, recognizes that we confront prejudice; that we Mr. Speaker, I submit herewith the the 60th anniversary of the liberation confront hate; that we confront the ad- ‘‘Report on Global Anti-Semitism’’ re- of Auschwitz in German-occupied Po- verse effects of all of those human ferred to earlier. land. We also seek to strengthen the emotions, and has been a strong voice REPORT ON GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM fight against racism, intolerance, big- within the Parliamentary Assembly of July 1, 2003–December 15, 2004, submitted otry, prejudice, discrimination, and the Commission on Security and Co- by the Department of State to the Com- anti-Semitism. The Congress of the operation in Europe dealing with this mittee on Foreign Relations and the Com- United States joins those in Poland issue of anti-Semitism. mittee on International Relations in accord- and elsewhere who are marking this In fact, the gentleman from New Jer- ance with Section 4 of PL 108–332, December solemn occasion. sey and the gentleman from Maryland 30, 2004. Released by the Bureau of Democ- I particularly support, Mr. Speaker, (Mr. CARDIN), and others, but primarily racy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, this resolution’s call for education the gentleman from New Jersey and 2005. about what happened during the Holo- the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Executive Summary caust in general and at Auschwitz in CARDIN), have been responsible for the I. ANTI-SEMITISM particular. At that single camp, an es- seminars that have been held in Europe Anti-Semitism has plagued the world for timated 1.1 million men, women, and raising the consciousness of all Euro- centuries. Taken to its most far-reaching children were slaughtered. All in all, peans, as we need to raise the con- and violent extreme, the Holocaust, anti- more than 60 percent of the pre-World sciousness of all Americans and all peo- Semitism resulted in the deaths of millions War II Jewish population perished dur- ples of the world to be aware of the in- of Jews and the suffering of countless others. ing the Holocaust. Others drawn into Subtler, less vile forms of anti-Semitism vidious, tragic, horrific consequences have disrupted lives, decimated religious the Nazi machinery of death included of prejudice and hate. communities, created social and political Poles, Roman and other nationalities, Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate cleavages, and complicated relations be- religious leaders and religious minori- the gentleman from New Jersey on his tween countries as well as the work of inter- ties, the mentally or physically handi- extraordinary leadership. He has been a national organizations. For an increasingly capped individuals, those who were giant in this effort, and I thank him. interdependent world, anti-Semitism is an considered inferior by the Nazis. The Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. intolerable burden. lives of countless survivors were for- Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank The increasing frequency and severity of ever broken. the distinguished Democrat whip for anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the 21st century, particularly in Europe, has When Soviet troops entered Ausch- his very kind remarks; but note that compelled the international community to witz, they found hundreds of thousands this has been a very strong bipartisan focus on anti-Semitism with renewed vigor. of men’s suits, more than 800,000 wom- effort, and he has been very much a Attacks on individual Jews and on Jewish en’s suits, and more than 14,000 pounds part of that Parliamentary Assembly. properties occurred in the immediate post of human hair, a silent and grim testi- When we first began to raise this World War II period, but decreased over time mony to the magnitude of the crimes issue, one of the focuses we brought to and were primarily linked to vandalism and that had been committed there. bear on the Parliamentary Assembly criminal activity. In recent years, incidents Mr. Speaker, throughout the last sev- was the importance of Holocaust edu- have been more targeted in nature with per- eral years, the Helsinki Commission, cation. And I would ask every Amer- petrators appearing to have the specific in- tent to attack Jews and Judaism. These at- which I chaired during the last 2 years, ican when they visit Washington to go tacks have disrupted the sense of safety and has tried to focus on this terrible rising down to the Holocaust Museum and well-being of Jewish communities. tide of anti-Semitism that has been oc- walk through that museum. Look at The definition of anti-Semitism has been curring throughout Europe, among the the pictures of the people doing the the focus of innumerable discussions and

VerDate Aug 04 2004 02:54 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.011 H25PT1 H152 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 studies. While there is no universally accept- tion of the attacks against Jews and Jewish has vastly increased the opportunity for pur- ed definition, there is a generally clear un- properties; disadvantaged and disaffected veyors of anti-Semitic material to spread derstanding of what the term encompasses. Muslim youths increasingly were responsible their propaganda unhindered. Anti-hater For the purposes of this report, anti-Semi- for most of the other incidents. This trend laws provide some protection, but freedom of tism is considered to be hatred toward appears likely to persist as the number of expression safeguards in many western coun- Jews—individually and as a group—that can Muslims in Europe continues to grow while ties limited the preventive measures that be attributed to the Jewish religion and/or their level of education and economic pros- governments could take. Satellite television ethnicity. An important issue is the distinc- pects remain limited. programming easily shifts from one provider tion between legitimate criticism of policies In Eastern Europe, with a much smaller to another and Internet offerings cross inter- and practices of the State of Israel, and com- Muslim population, skinheads and other national borders with few or no impedi- mentary that assumes an anti-Semitic char- members of the radical political fringe were ments. acter. The demonization of Israel, or vilifica- responsible for most anti-Semitic incidents. In June, the Organization for Security and tion of Israeli leaders, sometimes through Anti-Semitism remained a serious problem Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) organized a comparisons with Nazi leaders, and through in Russia and Belarus, and elsewhere in the separate meeting in Paris dealing with intol- the use of Nazi symbols to caricature them, former Soviet Union, with most incidents erance on the Internet, and subsequently ap- indicates an anti-Semitic bias rather than a carried out by ultra-nationalist and other proved a decision on ‘‘Promoting Tolerance valid criticism of policy concerning a con- far-right elements. The stereotype of Jews as and Media Freedom on the Internet.’’ The troversial issue. manipulators of the global economy con- decision is prescriptive in nature and care- Global anti-Semitism in recent years has tinues to provide fertile ground for anti-Se- fully caveated to avoid conflict with the var- had four main sources: mitic aggression. ied legal systems within the countries of the Traditional anti-Jewish prejudice that has Holocaust and tolerance education as well OSCE. It calls upon Participating States to pervaded Europe and some countries in other as teacher training provide a potential long- investigate and fully prosecute criminal parts of the world for centuries. This in- term solution to anti-Semitism; however, threats on violence based on anti-Semitic cludes ultra-nationalists and others who as- the problem is still rapidly outpacing the so- and other intolerance on the Internet, as sert that the Jewish community controls lution. At the end of 2003, and continuing well as to establish programs to educate governments, the media, international busi- into this year, some Jews, especially in Eu- children about hate speech and other forms ness, and the financial world. Strong anti-Israel sentiment that crosses rope, faced the dilemma either of hiding of bias. the line between objective criticism of their identity or facing harassment and Critics of Israel frequently use anti-Se- Israeli policies and anti-Semitism. sometimes even serious bodily injury and mitic cartoons depicting anti-Jewish images Anti-Jewish sentiment expressed by some death. The heavy psychological toll in this and caricatures to attack the State of Israel in Europe’s growing Muslim population, increasingly difficult environment should and its policies, as well as Jewish commu- based on longstanding antipathy toward not be overlooked or underestimated. nities and other who support Israel. These both Israel and Jews, as well as Muslim op- Middle East media attacks can lack any pretext of bal- ance or even factual basis and focus on the position to developments in Israel and the Jews left the countries of the Middle East demonization of Israel. The United States is occupied territories, and more recently in and North Africa in large numbers near the frequently included as a target of such at- Iraq. mid-point of the last century as their situa- tacks, which often assert that U.S. foreign Criticiam of both the United States and tion became increasingly precarious. This policy is made in Israel or that Jews control globalization that spills over to Israel, and trend continues. Today few remain, and few the media and financial markets in the to Jews in general who are identified with incidents involving the remaining members United States and the rest of the world. Dur- both. of the Jewish community have been re- ing the 2004 United States presidential cam- II. HARASSMENT, VANDALISM AND PHYSICAL ported. Nonetheless, Syria condoned and, in paign, the Arab press ran numerous cartoons VIOLENCE some cases, even supported through radio, closely identifying both of the major Amer- Europe and Eurasia television programming, news articles, and ican political parties with Israel and with Anti-Semitism in Europe increased signifi- other mass media the export of the virulent Israeli Prime Minister Sharon. cantly in recent years. At the same time it domestic anti-Semitism. The official and ‘‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,’’ a should be noted that many European coun- state-supported media’s anti-Zionist propa- text debunked many years ago as a fraud tries have comprehensive reporting systems ganda frequently adopts the terminology and perpetrated by Czarist intelligence agents, that record incidents more completely than symbols of the Holocaust to demonize Israel continued to appear in the Middle East is possible in other countries. Because of this and its leaders. This rhetoric often crosses media, not as a hoax, but as established fact. significant difference in reporting systems, the line separating the legitimate criticism Government-sponsored television in Syria it is not possible to make direct comparisons of Israel and its policies to become anti-Se- ran lengthy serials based on the Protocols. between countries or geographic regions. Be- mitic vilification posing as legitimate polit- The representations emphasized blood libel ginning in 2000, verbal attacks directed ical commentary. At the same time, Holo- and the alleged control by the Jewish com- against Jews increased while incidents of caust denial and Holocaust minimization ef- munity of international finance. The clear vandalism (e.g. graffiti, fire bombings of forts find increasingly overt acceptance as purpose of the programs was to incite hatred Jewish schools, desecration of synagogues sanctioned historical discourse in a number of Jews and of Israel. Copies of the Protocols and cemeteries) surged. Physical assaults in- of Middle Eastern countries. and other similar anti-Semitic forgeries cluding beatings, stabbings and other vio- Other Regions were readily available in Middle Eastern lence against Jews in Europe increased The problem of anti-Semitism is not only countries, former Soviet republics and else- markedly, in a number of cases resulting in significant in Europe and in the Middle East, where. Similarly, allegations that Jews were serious injury and even death. Also troubling but here are also worrying expressions of it behind the 9/11 attacks were widely dissemi- is a bias that spills over into anti-Semitism elsewhere. For example, in Pakistan, a coun- nated. in some of the left-of-center press and among try without a Jewish community, anti-Se- In November 2004, Al-Manar, the Lebanon- some intellectuals. mitic sentiment fanned by anti-Semitic Ar- based television network controlled by The disturbing rise of anti-Semitic intimi- ticles in the press is widespread. This re- Hizballah featuring blatantly anti-Semitic dation and incidents is widespread through- flects the more recent phenomenon of anti- material, obtained a limited 1-year satellite out Europe, although with significant vari- Semitism appearing in the countries where broadcast license from the French authori- ations in the number of cases and the accu- historically or currently there are few or ties. This was revoked shortly thereafter due racy of reporting. European governments in even no Jews. to Al-Manar’s continued transmission of most countries now view anti-Semitism as a Elsewhere, in Australia, the level of in- anti-Semitic material. Al-Manar is now off serious problem for their societies and dem- timidation and attacks against Jews and the air in France. Other Middle East net- onstrate a greater willingness to address the Jewish property and anti-Zionist and anti- works with questionable content, such as Al- issue. The Vienna-based European Union Semitic rhetoric decreased somewhat over Jazeerah and Al-Arrabiya, maintain their Monitoring Center (EUMC), for 2002 and 2003, the past year. This year, New Zealand expe- French broadcast licenses. identified France, Germany, the United rienced several desecrations of Jewish tomb- Kingdom, Belgium, and The Netherlands as IV. ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENTS stones and other incidents. In the Americas, EU member countries with notable increases In Europe and other geographic regions, in addition to manifestations of anti-Semi- in incidents. As these nations keep reliable many governments became increasingly tism in the United States, Canada experi- and comprehensive statistics on anti-Se- aware of the threat presented by anti-Semi- enced a significant increase in attacks mitic acts, and are engaged in combating tism and spoke out against it. Some took ef- against Jews and Jewish property. There anti-Semitism, their data was readily avail- fective measures to combat it with several were notable anti-Semitic incidents in Ar- able to the EUMC. Governments and leading countries, including France, Belgium, and gentina and isolated incidents in a number of public figures condemned the violence, Germany, now providing enhanced protec- other Latin American countries. passed new legislation, and mounted positive tion for members of the Jewish community law enforcement and educational efforts. III. MEDIA and Jewish properties. In Western Europe, traditional far-right The proliferation of media outlets (tele- For the most part, the police response to groups still account for a significant propor- vision, radio, print media and the Internet) anti-Semitic incidents was uneven. Most law

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:14 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.007 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H153 enforcement officials are not specifically ocaust and to its implementation. Current against practices that have allowed their in- trained to deal with hate crimes, particu- members of the ITF include Argentina, Aus- stitutions to promote anti-Semitism, such as larly anti-Semitic hat crimes. Police some- tria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ger- the heavily watched television series Rider times dismissed such crimes as hooliganism many, Hungary Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lith- Without a Horse and Diaspora that respec- or petty crime, rather than attacks against uania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Nor- tively promoted the canard of the blood Jews because of their ethnicity or religion, way, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, libel, and ‘‘The Protocols of Elders of Zion.’’ or because the assailants identified the vic- United Kingdom, and the United States. In U.S. bilateral demarches were effective in tims with the actions of the State of Israel. addition four other countries (Croatia, Esto- specific instances, but more remains to be In countries where anti-Semitism is a seri- nia, Greece, Slovakia) maintain a liaison re- done to encourage national leaders to speak ous problem, specialized training for police lationship with the ITF. out forcefully against anti-Semitism and in support of respectful, tolerant societies. and members of the judiciary remains a VI. U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO MONITOR AND pressing need. Many nations still do not have Building on the success achieved to date, COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM the Department of State is accelerating its hate crimes laws that address anti-Semitic The U.S. Government is committed to and other intolerance-related crimes. In efforts with its partners globally to improve monitoring and combating anti-Semitism both monitoring and combating anti-Semi- some instances where such laws already throughout the world as an important exist, stronger enforcement is needed. tism in three specific areas: education, legis- human rights and religious freedom issue. As lation, and law enforcement. The Depart- V. MULTILATERAL ACTION President Bush said when he signed the ment will continue to promote the develop- Anti-Semitism is a global problem that re- Global Anti-Semitism Review Act on Octo- ment of Holocaust education curricula and quires a coordinated multinational ap- ber 16, 2004, ‘‘Defending freedom also means teacher training programs. A successful pro- proach. Thus far, the most effective vehicle disrupting the evil of anti-Semitism.’’ gram in this area has been summer teacher for international cooperation has been the Annually, the U.S. Department of State training partially funded through U.S. Em- OSCE, comprised of 55 participating states publishes the International Religious Free- bassies in cooperation with the Association from Europe, Eurasia and North America dom Report and the Country Reports on of American Holocaust Organizations (AHO) plus Mediterranean and Asian partners for Human Rights Practices. Both detail inci- and the United States Holocaust Memorial cooperation. The OSCE organized two dents and trends of anti-Semitism world- Museum (USHMM). At the October 2004 groundbreaking conferences on anti-Semi- wide. The State Department’s instructions OSCE Human Dimension Meeting, the tism—in June 2003, in Vienna and in April to U.S. Embassies for the 2004 Country Re- United States and France hosted a seminar 2004, In Berlin. These were the first inter- ports on Human Rights Practices explicitly on methodologies for teaching the Holocaust national conferences to focus high-level po- required them to describe acts of violence in multicultural societies. The United States litical attention solely on the problem of against Jews and Jewish properties, as well also supports the work of NGOs in promoting anti-Semitism. The Vienna Conference iden- as actions governments are taking to pre- educational programs abroad, in part based tified anti-Semitism as a human rights issue. vent this form of bigotry and prejudice. on successful seminars in the United States OSCE Foreign Ministers gave further high- In multilateral fora, the Department of that teach respect for individuals and minor- level political acknowledgment to the seri- State called for recognition of the rise of ity groups. Additionally, the U.S. State De- ousness of anti-Semitism at their December anti-Semitism and the development of spe- partment has supported efforts to promote 2003 meeting in Maastricht. There they took cific measures to address it. The Department tolerance in the Saudi educational system the formal decision to spotlight the need to played a leading role in reaching agreement including by sponsoring the travel of reli- combat anti-Semitism by deciding to task in the OSCE to hold the two conferences on gious educators to the United States to ex- the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions combating anti-Semitism noted above in amine interreligious education. The roots of anti-Semitism run deep and and Human Rights (ODIHR) to serve as a col- Section V. Former New York City Mayors the United States does not underestimate lection point for hate crimes information. Rudolph Giuliani and Edward Koch led the the difficulty of reversing the recent resur- United States delegations to the conferences ODIHR is now working with OSCE member gence of this ancient scourge. The legislative states to collect information on hate crimes in Vienna and Berlin, respectively. Each and executive branches, together with NGOs, legislation and to promote ‘‘best practices’’ brought a wealth of knowledge and experi- constitute an important partnership in con- in the areas of law enforcement, combating ence in fostering respect for minorities in tinuing the vital effort to find creative ways hate crimes, and education. ODIHR estab- multicultural communities. Key NGOs to monitor, contain, and finally stop anti- lished a Program on Tolerance and Non-Dis- worked productively with the Department to Semitism. crimination and now has an advisor to deal prepare for these conferences. In his address exclusively with the issue. to the Berlin Conference, Secretary Powell Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield At their December 2004 meeting in Sofia, said: ‘‘ We must not permit anti-Semitism myself such time as I may consume to OSCE Foreign Ministers welcomed the crimes to be shrugged off as inevitable side express my deepest admiration to both Chair-in-Office’s decision to appoint three effects of inter-ethnic conflicts. Political dis- my friend, the gentleman from New special representatives for tolerance issues, agreements do not justify physical assaults Jersey (Mr. SMITH), and the gentleman including a special representative for anti- against Jews in our streets, the destruction from Maryland (Mr. HOYER), who not Semitism, to work with member states on of Jewish schools, or the desecration of syna- only on the Helsinki Commission and implementing specific commitments to fight gogues and cemeteries. There is no justifica- in this body but in their own personal anti-Semitism. In addition, the Foreign Min- tion for anti-Semitism.’’ At the United Na- activities have provided extraordinary isters accepted the Spanish Government’s tions, the United States has supported reso- offer to host a third anti-Semitism con- lutions condemning anti-Semitism both at leadership in fighting bigotry and ha- ference in June 2005 in Cordoba. the General Assembly and at the UN Com- tred in all its forms. The United Nations also took important mission on Human Rights. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield measures in the fight against anti-Semitism. An important lesson of the Holocaust is such time as he may consume to the One was a June 2004 seminar on anti-Semi- that bigotry and intolerance can lead to fu- gentleman from Maryland (Mr. HOYER), tism hosted by Secretary General Kofi ture atrocities and genocides if not addressed the Democratic whip and my good Annan. Another measure was a resolution of forcefully by governments and other sectors friend. the United Nations Third Committee in No- of society. The United States is committed Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank vember 2004, which called for the elimination to working bilaterally to promote efforts the gentleman for yielding me this of all forms of religious intolerance, explic- with other governments to arrest and roll time, and I rise as well to say that no itly including anti-Semitism. back the increase in anti-Semitism. Presi- Education remains a potentially potent dent Bush affirmed that commitment during Member of this body has been any more antidote for anti-Semitism and other forms his visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2003, stat- personally affected, and certainly no of intolerance. Following the first Stock- ing: ‘‘This site is a sobering reminder that Member of this body has more consist- holm Conference in 1998, convoked out of when we find anti-Semitism, whether it be in ently raised the consciousness of the concern for the decreasing level of knowl- Europe, in America or anywhere else, man- American people and, indeed, the inter- edge of the Holocaust particularly among kind must come together to fight such dark national community on the importance the younger generation, Sweden, the United impulses.’’ of never forgetting. Kingdom and the United States decided to U.S. Embassies implement this commit- address the issue collaboratively. The Task ment by speaking out against anti-Semitic b 1500 Force for International Cooperation on Holo- acts and hate crimes. Ambassadors and other Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- caust Education, Remembrance, and Re- embassy officers work with local Jewish tleman from Illinois (Chairman HYDE), search (ITF) emerged from this initial effort. communities to encourage prompt law en- who is committed to this issue and has Today the ITF, an informal international forcement action against hate crimes. In organization operating on the basis of con- Turkey, the U.S. Embassy worked closely been a leader and has traveled and sensus, and without a bureaucracy, consists with the Jewish community following the headed the delegations of the Helsinki of 20 countries. ITF member states agree to November 2003 bombing of the Neve Shalom Commission to the Parliamentary As- commit themselves to the Declaration of the Synagogue. In the Middle East, our embas- sembly and raised our voice in foreign Stockholm International Forum on the Hol- sies have protested to host governments lands.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.010 H25PT1 H154 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 I also thank the gentleman from ment to freedom and basic human My colleagues, what makes our coun- California (Mr. LANTOS), the ranking rights. And it compels us to fight ha- try great is we respect differences: eth- member, the only Holocaust survivor tred and prejudice wherever it rears its nic, religious, race, gender, geographic ever elected to Congress. In particular, head. and political; that we have a govern- I want to say to the gentleman from Our President spoke just a few days ment that reflects and embraces our California, his indefatigable commit- ago in his Inaugural Address about the Nation’s broad diversity; and that we, ment to human freedom and basic commitment of this country to free- as a community, are afforded opportu- human dignity is a source of inspira- dom, to liberty and, yes, to human nities to recall the good and the dark tion to all of us privileged to serve rights. He was right to do so. We owe times in our shared history. with the gentleman. It should be emu- those souls who perished at the hands Madam Speaker, I am tremendously lated by us all. of Nazis at Auschwitz, who perished at grateful for being able to share my Madam Speaker, 60 years ago at 3 the hands of Milosevic, who died at the family’s story, to know my mother p.m. on January 27, 1945, Soviet Red hands of those in Sudan and in every would be proud to know that we were Army soldiers entered Auschwitz con- other place where hate and prejudice not only paying tribute to those who centration camp. Those of us who vis- was the motivation for murder. We owe suffered tremendous pain and hardship, ited Auschwitz long after that date but those souls our unremitting pledge to but to recall the Jewish people’s great who saw the horrible implements of never, never, never permit these hor- spirit to survive, continued faith in death constructed there by the Nazi re- rific periods in human history to be re- God, and unwavering belief in freedom gime can only imagine, knowing the peated. I was one of those who felt that and democracy. horror that we felt, the horror and re- we waited too long as we saw the geno- Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I vulsion that those Soviet soldiers, cide in Serbia and in Kosovo and in yield such time as he may consume to human beings, must have felt as they Bosnia. We must not delay our re- the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. entered that camp in a village in sponse. If we do so, we remember CARDIN), the Democratic leader on the southern Poland 30 miles west of Auschwitz, but we remember it with- Helsinki Commission. Krakow. What they discovered there out learning its lesson. (Mr. CARDIN asked and was given Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I haunts us today and should haunt us permission to revise and extend his re- yield such time as she may consume to every day. marks.) A Russian Army officer described the the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania Mr. CARDIN. Madam Speaker, as we reaction to the sight of the camp’s re- (Ms. SCHWARTZ), a new Member of the commemorate the 60th anniversary of maining 7,000 prisoners, who had been House who has already made her mark the liberation of Auschwitz, I want to on this institution. too ill or weak to move and were left to acknowledge how fortunate we are in Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. die in the cold by the fleeing Germans. this body to have the gentleman from Madam Speaker, I rise with profound California (Mr. LANTOS) as one of our He said, ‘‘The soldiers from my bat- gratitude to the people of Pennsylva- Members. His passion on human rights talion asked me, ‘Let us go. We cannot nia’s 13th Congressional District for is so welcomed in this body. He has stay. This is unbelievable.’ It was so electing me to represent them in Con- been the champion on these issues for terrible, it was hard for the mind to ab- gress. As the daughter of a Holocaust many years. We thank the gentleman sorb it.’’ survivor, I am honored that my first But the mind, Madam Speaker, must for everything he has meant to our sen- opportunity to speak on the House never forget it. The Nazis had spent floor is on an issue so close to my sitivity on human rights issues. The weeks moving the most able-bodied heart. gentleman has seen it firsthand and prisoners, destroying documents and My colleagues, the gentleman from has helped us understand the need for bulldozing buildings. But the liberation California (Mr. LANTOS) and the gen- activism in this body. I also acknowledge the gentleman of the largest Nazi concentration camp, tleman from Maryland (Mr. HOYER), I where 1.5 million innocent souls were and so many others stand today in re- from Illinois (Chairman HYDE) for his murdered, women and children, young membrance of the 6 million Jews who leadership on human rights issues, and and old, opened the world’s eyes to the lost their lives during the Second the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. unspeakable evil of the Holocaust. World War, many of whom were our SMITH) who is our leader on the Hel- While it is appropriate that this som- aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers, sinki Commission, not only on this ber day be marked in ceremonies all friends and loved ones. issue, but on anti-Semitism generally. around the globe, it will be a further My mother, Renee Perl, was one of He has led the effort in the inter- tragedy if on this occasion we only the many who fled their homeland. national body to make sure that we look back without also looking ahead. Forced to start anew at the young age pay attention to the rise of anti-Semi- The gentleman from California (Mr. of 14, she left Austria alone, spending tism in Europe today. LANTOS) did that. time in Holland and England before ar- Last year I had an opportunity to We cannot remember the liberation riving in Philadelphia at the age of 16 visit Auschwitz and see firsthand of the concentration camps and the de- in 1941. Once arriving on the shores of where a million people lost their lives feat of the Nazis in World War II and at America, my mother, like so many in the factory of death. It has an im- the same time cast a blind eye toward Jews, was hesitant to tell her story, pact on all of us who have seen how in- the growing problem of anti-Semitism hoping that by trying to forget about humane people can be. that still infects the world today, and the war, the violence, the dislocation, Madam Speaker, in 1991 the partici- tragically grows today. Nor can we ig- the fear she could move on. Yet once in pating states of the Organization for nore the hatred and prejudice that the United States, those who survived Security and Cooperation in Europe fuels the genocide in Sudan today. The the Holocaust could not hide their agreed in Krakow, Poland, to ‘‘strive to gentleman from California (Mr. LAN- gratitude and love for this country, rel- preserve and protect these monuments TOS) mentioned Darfur. ishing the opportunity and freedom and sites of remembrance, including Hatred knows no gender, no race, no granted to them as new Americans. My extermination camps, and the related ethnicity. It lurks in man’s heart own love and respect for our country archives, which are themselves today as surely as it did during the and my belief in our responsibility to testimonials to their tragic experience Holocaust. Even today in this country each other stems in great part from in their common past. Such steps need we talk about some people in our coun- this strong sense of patriotism. to be taken in order that those experi- try in a way that demeans them and Elie Wiesel once said, ‘‘We should all ences may be remembered, may help to dehumanizes them and gives to others respect the uniqueness, the originality, teach present and future generations of the misapprehension that they can act the specificity in one another.’’ It was these events, and thus ensure that they against those people, whoever they leaders like Mr. Wiesel who inspired are never repeated.’’ might be. We see tragic instances of Jews to acknowledge the importance of Auschwitz is just such a site of re- that. And that reality, as painful as it remembering, of telling the stories, so membrance. With this resolution, we is to accept, compels us to use this sol- as to never let a Holocaust happen mourn innocent lives lost and vibrant emn occasion to restate our commit- again. communities destroyed. We honor

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.013 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H155 those who fought fascism and helped the Cracow Document, we must ‘‘teach I could spend my 2 minutes speaking liberate Auschwitz and other Nazi present and future generations of these about the gentleman from California camps. events, and thus ensure that they are never (Mr. LANTOS) and the defining stature This resolution also goes further and repeated.’’ The chilling rise of anti-Semitism in that he represents in this body and in speaks to the compelling need for Holo- recent years tells us that more must be done. this Nation. This resolution today on caust education throughout the globe. This resolution calls on all nations and peo- Auschwitz really helps to confirm all of In the words of the Krakow Document, ples to strengthen their efforts to fight against the teaching that the gentleman from we must ‘‘teach present and future gen- racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, dis- California (Mr. LANTOS) has been able erations of these events, and thus en- crimination, and anti-Semitism. to provide to those of us who have been sure that they are never repeated.’’ In the last Congress I was pleased to join willing to be tutored. This chilling rise of anti-Semitism in with Mr. LANTOS and Helsinki Commission Today we acknowledge the 6 million recent years tells us that more must be Chairman CHRIS SMITH in working to enact the murdered and the terrible tragic loss of done. Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004. Ear- life in all the other concentration Madam Speaker, I can speak a long lier this month the U.S. State Department camps throughout WWII. Today we time on this subject. This resolution issued its first-ever global report on anti-Semi- stand in support of a resolution that calls on all nations and people to tism, as mandated by the legislation. We now acknowledges that brutality, but does strengthen their efforts to fight have a roadmap to build upon in the future, not accept it. Although it existed in against racism, intolerance, bigotry, which details both best practices by states as human treatment, we stand today prejudice, discrimination and anti- well as areas in which participating States are against it. Today we also acknowledge Semitism. I am proud that this body is still falling short of their OSCE commitments. and humbly pray over the souls who bringing forward this resolution. I In April 2004 I attended the Conference on lost their lives and make a pledge on commend my colleagues and the lead- Anti-Semitism of the OSCE in Berlin with Sec- the floor of the House: Never, never ership of the committee for bringing it retary of State Colin Powell. The 55 Partici- again. forward. I urge all of my colleagues to pating States of the OSCE adopted a strong Madam Speaker, I rise today simply support the resolution. action plan, the Berlin Declaration, which lays to be one of those who would never ig- Madam Speaker, Yad Vashem exhibits the out specific steps for states to take regarding nore this horrific tragedy and terrible sketches of Zinovii Tolkatchev, a Soviet sol- Holocaust education, data collection and moni- brutality, and to be able to lift my dier who was among those who liberated toring of hate crimes against Jews, and im- voice in support of H. Res. 39 by, first, Majdanek and Auschwitz, under the fitting title, proved coordination between nongovernmental thanking the gentleman from Cali- ‘‘Private Tolkatchev at the Gates of Hell.’’ For organizations and European law enforcement fornia (Mr. LANTOS) for bringing the surely that is what he saw and what Auschwitz agencies. personal inhumane experience that he was. As ranking member of the Helsinki Com- During our conference, on the evening of faced and confronted to this Congress mission, I visited Auschwitz last year and saw April 28, President Johannes Rau of Germany and to America so that we might learn for myself the furnaces that took the lives of hosted a dinner for the President of the State to be better. more than one million human beings at the of Israel Moshe Katsav. President Katsav I am very grateful that the resolu- camp. These furnaces stoked hatred and intol- spoke powerfully about the need to combat tion stands against bigotry and speaks erance to a degree never before seen in the rising tide of anti-Semitism throughout the to the world that we must do better. I human history. world. I cannot tell you how powerful it was to ask my colleagues to support this reso- Today, I rise as a cosponsor and in strong listen to the German President and the Israeli lution and, of course, to acknowledge support of this resolution, which seeks to join President address the issue of anti-Semitism the fact that we can be a better Nation the voices of this body to all those gathered in together in Berlin. if we are reminded of the fact that we Let me just highlight one section of Presi- Poland and elsewhere in our common remem- are all fighters against inhumane dent Katsav’s remarks: treatment to others around us. brance of the liberation of Auschwitz 60 years ‘‘The violence against the Jews in Europe is ago, on January 27, by Soviet Army troops. evidence that anti-Semitism, which we have b 1515 I commend Congressman LANTOS, the rank- not known since the Second World War, is on The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. ing member of the International Relations the rise. This trend of the new anti-Semitism BIGGERT). The time of the gentleman Committee, for introducing this resolution and is a result of the aggressive propaganda, from California has expired. for his steadfast leadership in his work against made possible by modern technologies, Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 anti-Semitism and for Holocaust education and globalilzation and abuse of democracy and minutes to the gentleman from Cali- awareness. I am also deeply heartened that which creates an infrastructure for developing fornia (Mr. LANTOS), and I ask unani- the United Nations General Assembly, at the and increasing anti-Semitism, of a kind we mous consent that he be permitted to request of many governments and with the have not known before . . . Many times I control that time. support of Secretary General Kofi Annan, con- have heard voices saying that anti-Semitism is The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there vened a special session on January 24 to not unique and that it is no different from other objection to the request of the gen- mark the liberation of the Auschwitz and other kinds of racism. Anti-Semitism should indeed tleman from Illinois? death camps. receive special attention. Hatred against the There was no objection. Madam Speaker, in 1991, the participating Jews has existed for many generations and it Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am State of the Organization for Security and Co- is rooted in many cultures and continents very pleased to yield such time as he operation in Europe (OSCE) agreed in Cra- through the world. However, now anti-Semi- may consume to the gentleman from cow, Poland, to ‘‘strive to preserve and protect tism has become an instrument for achieving New York (Mr. OWENS) who has been an those monuments and sites of remembrance, political aims . . . The genocide of the Jews indefatigable fighter for human rights including most notably extermination camps, was the result of anti-Semitism and was not for all people. and the related archives, which are them- caused by a war between countries or a terri- (Mr. OWENS asked and was given selves testimonials to their tragic experiences torial conflict and, therefore, anti-Semitism is a permission to revise and extend his re- in their common past. Such steps need to be special danger for world Jewry and the whole marks.) taken in order that those experiences may be of Europe.’’ Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, this remembered, may help to teach present and I urge others here today to join me in sup- 60th anniversary observance of the lib- future generations of these events, and thus porting this resolution. eration of Auschwitz presents the peo- ensure that they are never repeated.’’ Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I ple of all civilized nations with an op- Auschwitz is just such a site of remem- yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman portunity to focus a searing light of ex- brance. With this resolution, we mourn inno- from Texas (Ms. JACKSON-LEE), a cou- posure on one of the deadliest land- cent lives lost and vibrant communities de- rageous fighter for human rights in all mark events of human history. More stroyed. We honor those who fought fascism realms. than 1 million human beings died in and helped liberate Auschwitz and other Nazi Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam this hellish extermination factory camps. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from which was part of a system that mur- This resolution also goes further and speaks California (Mr. LANTOS), the ranking dered more than 6 million Jews. to the compelling need for Holocaust edu- member, and the gentleman from Illi- As often as possible, in every way cation throughout the globe. In the words of nois (Chairman HYDE). conceivable, the leaders of the present

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.015 H25PT1 H156 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 must be forced to gaze with thorough ically advanced, well educated, culturally so- Hitler that made Auschwitz the symbol and undivided attention upon the hor- phisticated, thoroughly organized nations that of inhumanity and brutality during the ror of the Holocaust. The observance of the world has ever seen is a fact that mag- Holocaust. this 60th anniversary is an empty, use- nifies the need to forever study this bloody From 1940 to 1945, the Nazis deported less ceremony if it does not arouse man-made tsunami. over 1 million Jews, 150,000 Poles, 23,000 massive, worldwide anger, pity, and The observance of this sixieth anniversary is Roma, 15,000 Soviet POWs, and over fear. The anger must be directed not an empty, useless ceremony if it does not 10,000 prisoners of other nationalities only at Hitler and the SS; but also the arouse massive worldwide anger, pity and to Auschwitz. Nearly 1.5 million pris- anger should be focused on the millions fear. The anger must be directed not only at oners perished in gas chambers or died who helped to maintain the poison fog Hitler and the SS; but also the anger should of starvation and disease. Overall, 6 of racism, anti-Semitism, and religious be focused on the millions who help to main- million Jews died in the Holocaust. hatred. The pity levels must be raised tain the poison fog racism, anti-Semitism and Sixty years after Allied troops liber- high to envelop all of the more than 6 religious hatred. The pity levels must be raised ated Auschwitz, it is important to re- million individual souls whose opportu- high to envelope all of the more than six mil- member what lessons can be taken nities to breathe and live, to develop lion individual souls whose opportunities to from the unspeakable atrocities that their potential and to pursue happiness breathe and live, to develop their potential and took place during the Holocaust. It was were so brutally snuffed out. The fear to pursue happiness were so brutally snuffed racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and must be shared by us all as we con- out. The fear must be shared by us all as we general religious intolerance that template our unforgivable impotence contemplate our unforgivable impotence in the drove Hitler to pursue the destruction in the face of other epidemics of geno- face of other epidemics of genocide that have of the Jewish people. cide that have been allowed since the been allowed since the landmark lesson the To honor the victims who lost their landmark lesson of the Holocaust. holocaust. lives in the Holocaust and ensure that Stalin and his gulags; Pol Pot and his Stalin and his gulags; Pol Pot and his killing such acts never happen again, there killing fields; the Hutu intelligentsia fields; the Hutu intelligentsia and their exhor- must be a concerted effort to fight in- and their exhortation to ‘‘cut the tall tation to ‘‘cut the tall trees’’ with machete exe- tolerance and discrimination. That is trees’’ with machete executions. All of cutions; all of this competition with Hitler has what this resolution does. this competition with Hitler has oc- occurred within the last sixty years. We ap- Madam Speaker, I have not had the curred within the last 60 years. We ap- plaud the civilized governments of the world opportunity to visit Auschwitz; but be- plaud the civilized governments of the for drawing a line at Kosovo. But we are bur- fore I was elected to Congress in 1990, world for drawing a line at Kosovo. But dened with a great fear that more mass my family and I and our two children we are burdened with a great fear that slaughters are coming because we still have visited Dachau in southern Germany, more mass slaughters are coming be- not learned this most profound lesson of mod- not only for my wife and I but also for cause we still have not learned this ern history. our, at that time, 14- and 15-year-old most profound lesson of modern his- On the occasion of this sixtieth anniversary children to see what inhumanity man- tory. let us remember that the trials of the major kind could do to itself and not only for On the occasion of this 60th anniver- killers at Nuremberg also failed to take place, our generation but for that next gen- sary, we must remember that the les- that Nazi scholars are still daring to deny the eration to make sure that that never son of history is that perpetrators of reality of the holocaust. We must remember happens again. genocide must have us come down on that new statutes are being contemplated for Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I them with an uncompromising, right- Stalin. We must also note the fact the Pol Pot yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman eous wrath; and we must trumpet their died of natural causes. We must show fear in from Florida (Ms. WASSERMAN punishment throughout the Earth. The the face of our present inability to advance the SCHULTZ). message for future mass murderers trials and convictions of many of the obvious Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 with their convoluted rationale and architects of the genocide in Rwanda. minute to the gentlewoman from Flor- twisted theories is that there will be The lesson of history is that we must come ida (Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ). swift and universally supported punish- down on the perpetrators of genocide with an The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. ment. The message for the populations uncompromising righteous wrath and trumpet BIGGERT). The gentlewoman from Flor- that support them is that there will be their punishment throughout the earth. The ida is recognized for 2 minutes. no acceptance of sentimental schemes message for future mass murders with their Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. for truth and reconciliation. For ignor- convoluted rational and twisted theories is that Madam Speaker, Libusa Breder, a Jew- ing Auschwitz, there can be no par- there will be swift and universally supported ish prisoner, said, ‘‘There was no God dons, no acceptance of sentimental punishment. The message for the populations in Auschwitz. There were such horrible schemes for truth and reconciliation. that support genocide in the future must be conditions that God decided not to go For permitting their leaders to violate that there is no acceptable excuse for your ac- there.’’ the most important principles of tions. For ignoring Auschwitz there can be no With the passage of time, it has be- human society, the citizens of any na- pardons, no acceptance of sentimental come more difficult for my generation tion must be collectively judged and schemes for truth and reconciliation. For per- to grasp what happened 60 years ago. their nation must be forced to pay a mitting their leaders to violate the most vital The contributions and courage of the special debt to civilization. principles of human society the citizens must Greatest Generation enabled my gen- Madam Speaker, this sixieth anniversary ob- be collectively judged and their nation must be eration of Americans to grow up in servance of the liberation of Auschwitz pre- forced to pay a special debt to civilization. peace and be the first generation in sents the people of all civilized nations with an Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am decades to live without facing con- opportunity to focus a searing light of expo- very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the scription. sure on one of the deadliest landmark events gentleman from Texas (Mr. GENE In Auschwitz, at least 1.5 million in- of human history. More than one million GREEN) who has fought against dis- nocent people suffered unfathomable human beings died in this hellish extermi- crimination, bigotry and anti-Semi- pain and ultimate death. They were nation factory which was part of a system that tism throughout his entire career. from many different nations, over 90 murdered more than six million Jews. Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam percent of them Jews. South Florida, As often as possible, in every way conceiv- Speaker, I rise in strong support of this where I am from, is home to the second able, the leaders of the present must be resolution. January 27, 2005, marks the largest population of Holocaust sur- forced to gaze with thorough and undivided at- 60th anniversary of the liberation of vivors in North America, the majority tention upon the horror of the holocaust. Auschwitz and serves as a reminder to of whom live in my home county of Auschwitz and all of the similar death camps each of us where racism, bigotry, and Broward. document the levels to which civilized men religious intolerance can lead. The concept of ‘‘never again’’ was in- can descend. No savage and primitive tribe Poles, Soviets, and prisoners of other stilled in me for my entire life. Unfor- could ever have engaged in such monumental nationalities were imprisoned and died tunately, in recent times, we have had and systematic slaughter. That these crimes in this camp; but it was the mass mur- vicious criminal acts against human- were committed by one of the most scientif- der of millions of European Jews by ity, and we must remember that we

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.017 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H157 must stay vigilant and not let the pas- est literacy rates in Europe when Hit- there stood before my eyes all the macabre sage of time weaken our resolve. We ler ruled that country and they scenes which one saw then, as well as deaths, are all proud of the Greatest Genera- marched with their swastikas. So it is which took away many of my friends and ac- quaintances under horrible camp conditions. tion; but with today’s resolution and a little more than education. It is, as I was afraid of these memories; I did not the anniversary approaching, we focus President Bush said in his inaugural, want to talk about them. on the Lost Generation. we have to change hearts. But time heals wounds, and in the end, we It is our solemn responsibility to This has been a good debate. We are see that it is necessary to touch on this sub- make sure that these lost souls did not going back to principles. We are going ject, because history repeats itself. History die in vain. We must never forget what back to the value of human life and repeats itself especially there, where it is happened to them, and we must use the how capable we are of abusing it and of forgotten. We pass it on, to avoid forgetting it and repeating its horrible moments. Some lessons of Auschwitz to stop modern- denigrating it. Let us hope that this of us (for example, my colleague Romanski) day atrocities such as the ethnic resolution elevates people’s ideas, fo- are still in the possession of authentic notes cleansing in Sudan. History can and cuses on how terrible we have treated written in the heat of the moment, in the will repeat itself unless we stand in the other human beings, and resolve to do camps, in pencil, already faded today. These way and fight against evil. better. historical artifacts should not be allowed to Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I would like disappear; we have to take care of their con- yield myself the balance of my time. to place in the RECORD the compelling story of servation. This is one of the finest moments of My narration pertains to my own experi- Mr. Marian Wojciechowski, now a U.S. citizen, ences. As those who survived the concentra- this body. We stand together without who is an Auschwitz survivor. The book tion camps also know very well, in the same any difference as to party or geo- ‘‘Seven Roads to Freedom’’, in which his camp, and even during the same time period graphic region in our determination chapter is included, traces the tragic journey and commando—it was possible to have more that human rights throughout our land of 6 million human beings who perished in luck or less, to encounter better or worse and throughout this globe be honored Nazi death camps. Mr. Wojciechowski and his conditions and treatment, to survive or to and respected. wife Wladyslawa survived, by a series of mir- perish. My reminiscences then cannot be re- I urge all of our colleagues to vote acles and brave encounters. History must lated exactly to the fate of other prisoners. for this resolution. Almighty God helped me in these oppres- record these noble stories so their vast sac- sions, and I survived. Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- rifice shall be remembered and honored. May I will begin with my youth, which has a ance of my time. the world save itself in the future from this hor- connection with the main topic of my story. Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield rific suffering. This story, translated into I come from the region of Sandomierz. Forty myself such time as I may consume. English, from the original Polish publication some kilometers to the south of Sandomierz, I would like to say to the gentle- deserves our attention and respect on this there is a small town called Polaniec, laid woman from Florida who remarked 60th anniversary commemoration of the libera- out on sandy soil. In the area, there were two or three mills, and at that time there was no that God forgot to come to Auschwitz, tion of Auschwitz. if she would read Elie Wiesel’s book factory or work establishment, besides the SEVEN ROADS TO FREEDOM Ruszcza estate where one could get agricul- ‘‘Night,’’ she would find an instance (Edited by Miroslawa Zawadzka and Andrzej tural work. I remember, that in those dif- where the Nazis lined up the Jewish Zawadzki) ficult times after the First World War, the prisoners in front of the gallows and THE MARTYROLOGY OF POLES IN HILTER’S local small landowners ate bread only on they were having a hanging of some DEATH CAMPS such important feast days like Christmas person who tried to escape and a low (Translated by: Anna Wojciechowski) and Easter, or during the harvest. For every- voice said, ‘‘Where is God?’’ Someone day meals, there was barszcz and potatoes (A Presentation delivered by Marian for breakfast, lunch and supper. Not until said, ‘‘He’s up there on the gallows.’’ Wojciechowski on May 8, 1998 to the Discus- He was there. He was just being pun- somewhat later, around 1937, did construc- sion Club at the American Polish Cultural tion begin there (for example, the embank- ished. Center in Troy, Michigan, USA). ments near the Wisla river). which gave peo- ‘‘Who is victorious shall be free, and who The gentleman from California (Mr. ple work and better conditions for living. Be- has died is already free.’’—words from LANTOS), the gentleman from New Jer- sides, these people worked very well and the ‘‘Warszawianka’’ sey (Mr. SMITH), the gentleman from results were very beautiful. Afterwards, in- 6 million victims of the Holocaust in Po- dustrial centers (COP—Centralny Okreg Maryland (Mr. HOYER), the gentleman land in the years 1939–1945: 3 million Chris- Przemyslowy) were also built, and the situa- from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN), the gen- tian Poles; 3 million Jewish Poles. tleman from Virginia (Mr. WOLF), there The historians of future generations will tion was systematically improved. After finishing elementary school in is a long, honorable list of people who research the archives, evaluate and then Polaniec, in 1939 I received my high school write how many additional hundreds of thou- are really the conscience of this Con- diploma in Busko-Zdroj (in the beautiful sands of Polish Christians—on whose orders, gress and, hence, of our country on this newly constructed building) and went to the where, by whom and under what cir- matter of human rights. Szkola Glowna Handlowa in Warsaw (Warsaw cumstances—were murdered in the years God must look down on this globe School of Economics). My parents, who were 1939–1989 by the henchmen of communist au- small farmers, did not have the funds to pay and see the killing that goes on in the thorities. Sudan, that went on in the gulag, that for my tuition, clothes, and room and board. 1. INTRODUCTION goes on in China. We just honored That’s why, during the four years of high Ukraine’s accession to democracy. Well I’m very happy that I came here, because I school, my brother and I earned money for see that I have already met here many col- our keep by tutoring for money. I would get do we remember the collectivization of leagues and friends from past times—now up at around 5, no later than 6 in the morn- the farms in the early thirties when pleasant ones, in America—as well as from ing, and I would go to bed after 11 in the millions of Ukrainians were starved to the times of our national martyrology: the evening. During the last two years I was a death. Life is very cheap. I think every occupation and the concentration camps. I so-called ‘‘Marszalek’’ (the chairman of human being should visit Auschwitz. It was in three concentration camps, in Ausch- chairmen) of the high school. During my col- is an education. It makes you under- witz, Gross Rosen and Leitmeritz, and here I lege studies in Warsaw, I was able to get a stand the depths to which human na- meet after many years my colleague, Mr. job as the assistant of the secretary in the ture can sink. Romanski, who was in the same camps and Union of Agricultural and Economic Co- we knew each other in Gross Rosen and met operatives (Zwiazek Spoldzielni Rolniczych i Someone said when Napoleon died it there together quite frequently; and with the Zarobkowo-Gospodarczych), with the benefit was because God got bored with him. I husband of Mrs. Romanska, who is here of being able to do my work during the day wonder that God is not bored with us, today—Zbyszek Romanski and I were or at night, during the workweek, as well as the cheapening of life. Democracy is friends, and we talked for many hours during on Saturdays and Sundays. more than a way of establishing rules the time free from labor in the Gross Rosen Even before the beginning of my studies I for lawsuits, for litigation. It ascribes camp. belonged to the Polish Scouting movement, I value to every human being, intrinsic At the beginning I would like to make participated in military preparation, I was value. That is the important thing clear, that I am describing my wartime and interested in various political directions and concentration camp experiences not for the social problems, trying to find answers to about democracy. purpose of inciting any hatred in anyone, or the question, how we should manage our I remember as a young man, I anger, or a desire for revenge. Absolutely country, in order to improve the welfare of thought education was the cure for big- not. For a long time, I was unable either to the people. During my college studies. I had otry, but Germany had one of the high- speak or to write on this subject, because many colleagues with various persuasions.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25JA7.018 H25PT1 H158 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 There were many forms of the so-called vilian clothes, march home and await fur- by the Okreg w Warszawie (Warsaw District), ‘‘sanacja’’ of the former Pilsudski camp, ther orders. the sections Rolniczo-Handlowy, Jajczarsko- such as Straz Przednia, Legion Mlodych, Over half of the soldiers of my platoon Mleczarski (agricultural-commerce and ovo- BBWR, OZON, various shades of the came from Wolyn. The entire detachment dairy), as well as the cashiers and Banki Stronnictwo Narodowe, Polska Partia was a well-harmonized group, fought brave- Spoldzielcze (Cooperative Banks). The third Socjalistyczna, Stronnictwo Ludowe. There ly, heroically. The losses in human lives floor was occupied by the Zarzad Centrali were some who communized (Jerzy were large. My deputy, a Wolynian, Corporal (Central Administration), and the Institytut Wuensche, Roman Ujma). There were also a Szkurski was killed in the first week of the Spoldzielczy (Cooperative Institute) was on few who usually played cards in the rest- war. I filled the losses in this way, by put- the fourth floor. Many workers ‘‘camped rooms of the library, and some who were not ting always-willing volunteers, stray infan- out’’ there with their families, because fam- interested in anything beyond their studies. trymen, on the horses left by those who were ily members were slowly finding each other. I studied two faculties simultaneously: co- killed. I named as my deputy one of the lead- During the siege of Warsaw food supplies operatives and business education; and of the ers of the section, a senior lancer. He ful- were exhausted, the prices on the black mar- required foreign languages, German and filled his function very well. ket were very high, and a large part of the English. I joined the group of friends of the After changing into civilian clothes, populace was starving. Situations were espe- Stronnictwo Ludowe. groups of people started to form in a loose cially difficult in hospitals, children shelters In discussions then we searched for the ap- march towards different directions: to their and so on. Many of my coworkers denied propriate road to improve the conditions in homes, to nearby relatives and acquaint- themselves part of what were rightfully their the country. While still in high school, I read ances. I proposed a march through Hungary own rationed portions to jointly gather food a copy of Kapital by Marx, translated into or Rumania to the Polish Army in France. supplies, for example for the hospitals. The Polish, which I borrowed from the local Jew- Two colleagues joined in: one a second lieu- director of the section of agricultural-com- ish library. By such searching around, I tenant of the reserve of a different detach- merce cooperatives was senior colleague came to the conclusion that in Poland we ment, who was originally from Warsaw, and Franciszek Kielan, a very honest individual, must work out our own way, and I found— one ensign of the career school of cavalry. As unusually generous and universally much re- the cooperative movement. Working in the I recall, his name was Bratkowski or spected. He convinced the German co-op movement, first as the secretary’s as- Bartkowski, having finished his second year. commissar on cooperative matters in War- sistant, and later as an auditor of the agri- We agreed to go to Stanislawow, stay there saw to transport food for the employees from cultural-cooperatives, I made contacts with with a colleague of Bratkowski’s and look the cooperative in Kutno (the largest cooper- many people of the Warsaw and Lodz prov- for a way to cross the border. After a few ative in the Warsaw district). inces, which helped me very much during hours the Russians detained us, and added us Along with fellow friend Jan Boniuk, we WWII in the underground resistance. to a group of demobilized soldiers headed for set out for Kutno and brought to Warsaw, to Immediately after my studies, I performed Lwo´ w. our office, a food-filled ladder wagon har- my military service in the School of Ensizns After various difficulties we were able to nessed to three horses. Part of the food was of the Cavalry (Szkola Podchorazych leave the barracks in Lwo´ w and get to the designated for hospitals, and the rest was di- Kawalerii) in Grudziadz, and after finishing colleague’s house in Stanislawow. We were vided according to the number of members in there, I was assigned to the 21st Regiment of received hospitably, but with fear that the each family, regardless of the employee’s po- the Nadwislanski Lancers (21-szy Pulk Soviets might find us, because then the sition. A majority of the younger co-op em- Ulanow Nadwislanskich) in Rowne whole family was in danger of arrest. After a ployees began to carry food to the hospitals. Wolynskie, in the Luck province. few days of gathering news, we determined In this way, I found in the hospital (probably During military service in the cavalry that the Rumanian border was surrounded by the Ujazdowski Hospital) the leader of my military college in Grudziadz, I taught the army with dogs, and that crossing the regiment, the 21st Regiment of the evening courses after service hours about co- border seemed to be impossible at that time. Nadwislanski Lancers from the Wolynska operatives for the non-career soldiers in After about a week, we decided we couldn’t Cavalry Brigade Lieutenant-Colonel Grudziadl. I organized courses in wheat-prod- place Bratkowski’s friend’s entire family in Kazimierz Rostwosuski, as well as many offi- uct (‘‘zbozowo-towarowe:’’ purchase. clean- danger, we had to return to Warsaw. We cers from our regiment and brigade. I have ing, milling, revision, storage, sale as well as reached the new Soviet-German border and to admit, that from that time on the food basic bookkeeping). The point was that after there we fell into Germans hands. They situation in the hospital improved very returning to their homes from the army, packed us into autos and conveyed the entire much. After a certain time, we learned that the they could join in the co-op work in their transport to Radom, where we were unloaded officers in the hospital were going to be hometowns. onto an empty field fenced in with barbed transported somewhere, and that the Ger- That’s a broad view of what my prewar wire. During the night, the two of us dug our mans were already examining the lists of pa- past looked like. way out under the barbed wire and fled in tients. I had the most acquaintances in the 2. THE WAR OF 1939 the direction of Warsaw. Sometime towards the end of October 1939, municipal offices in the former During the war in 1939 I was with my regi- we got to the locality of Pyry near Warsaw. Sandomierski district. So I set out on a cir- ment in the Lodz Army, in the Wolynska The farmer let us sleep in the barn. The next cuit and brought back as many as possible of Cavalry Brigade, in the region around the lo- day we were invited in for breakfast, and clean unfilled personal identification docu- cality of Mokra near Czestochowa. History they told us about the destruction and lack ments (identity cards) and municipal seals. I appraises our battles there very positively. of food in Warsaw. After breakfast my col- brought all these back to Warsaw and hand- During the retreat towards Warsaw, my ed them over to the reconnaissance liaison platoon was in the rear guard that is in league and I parted company. He went in the direction of his home, and I towards my from Sluzba Zwyciestwu Polski (SWP—Serv- shielding formation, Before reaching War- ice for the Victory of Poland). I already be- saw, I received the order to march on rented room on Narbutta Street. A friend of ´ longed at that time to the underground Garwolin and further on east for regrouping. mine from studies in the Szkola Glowna Handlowa (Warsaw School of Economics), group ‘‘Raclawice.’’ After a few days, the But other detachments of my regiment, sick officers were released from the hospital walking behind us, received an order to re- Hieronim Tatar and I rented one room, two other student acquaintances rented the sec- and directed to an agreed upon residence lo- main in the vicinity of Warsaw to defend the cation. The new identity cards turned out to capital (I learned about this from the leader- ond room, and the lanlords took up the rest of the house. be very good—they passed the test. ship of the regiment after the military ac- One day, the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel However, it appeared that the landlords tions of 1939 were over). Because Garwolin Rostwosuski contacted my office to let me had already signed the volksliste, so that was already burning, my platoon and I joined know not to spend the night at home, be- after a few days, my colleague Tatar and I in with various detachments of the Army of cause her husband was arrested during a moved in with a colleague from school— General Kleeberg—the grouping, of Lieuten- street roundup (lapanka) and would be inter- Andrzejewski, on Mokotowska Street. The ant-Colonel Mossor (Czas Ulanow, Bohdan rogated by the Gestapo that night. Luckily two of us took up one room. The rest of the Krolikowski, page 217 and we took part in the next day, she advised me that he had al- house was occupied by our colleague the successful cavalry charge of Cavalry Cap- ready been released on the basis of a pre- Andrzejewski, his mother and his elderly tain Burtowy (ibid, page 221) at the same viously issued identity card (as I recall, it grandfather Jakubowski (the mother’s fa- time that Lieutenant-Colonel Mossor surren- was issued to an ‘‘agricultural engineer’’ ther). dered to the Germans with the rest of the from an estate somewhere in Podole). grouping in the forest near Osuchowo. 3. PROFESSIONAL WORK AND THE UNDERGROUND After the end of the September campaign, The disbanding of our detachment did not Immediately the next day after returning there began the underground phase of the take place until the area near Uchnowo or to Warsaw, I went to my place of employ- battle. I was very much engaged in two Rawa Ruska at night, when the Germans ment, the Zwiazek Spoldzielni Rolniczych i groups. The first one was the group were attacking us from one side of the for- Zarobkowo-Gospodarczych (the Union of Ag- ‘‘Raclawice’’ belonging to the peoples’ move- est, and Soviet detachments were attacking ricultural and Economic Cooperatives) in ment (most from the pre-war ‘‘Siew’’). In from the other side. The order was: bury the Warsaw, 11a Warecka Street. The Kasa connection with my work in the co-op move- weapons and ammunition, give the horses Spoldzielcza (Cooperative Cashier) occupied ment, I was invited to prepare the statutes and uniforms to the peasants, change into ci- the first floor, the second floor was taken up and to help with the organizational work of

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:14 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.019 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H159 the newly established restaurant in Warsaw, friend from the cooperative and the cipients of her letters were also arrested. I the ‘‘Wymiana,’’ on 73 Mokotowska Street. ‘‘konspiracja’’), who asked me if I was com- had already organized for her a point of This was only going to be a cover for the ing for ‘‘breakfast.’’ I answered yes, because transfer, everything was prepared, but unfor- ‘‘Raclawice’’ group in its underground resist- I wasn’t at the ‘‘supper’’ yesterday, so I tunately it was too late. ance work. After a few months there oc- should go for ‘‘breakfast.’’ And my friend re- Sometime during the second half of 1940 or curred a desconspiration (wpadka) of a cell plied: ‘‘Better don’t go there, because last maybe at the beginning of 1941, I believe it of our group in Lublin (from where we re- night there was some poisoning with mush- was Kazimierz Wegierski himself who came ceived printing paper for the underground rooms.’’ In our language, ‘‘mushroom poi- to my office room with his friend and asked press). Using torture, the Germans forced in- soning’’ meant deconspiration or betrayal. It me to help him as much as I would be able formation about our Warsaw group from the turned out that the Gestapo arrived before to, after which he left the room, leaving me arrested members of that cell, but for now the hour designated for the meeting in the alone with his friend. I asked what was it all did nothing to us as yet. restaurant, and planted all the halls as well about? It was about making contact with One day a friend of mine, with the same as the stairway with its people, both in uni- people through whom he would be able to ac- first and last name besides (we called him forms and in civilian clothes. And after- quire smaller or larger quantities of every Marian Wojciechowski number one, I was wards, they would admit all incoming kind of food. In my travels around the co-ops number two) came to me and asked if I could guests, but they were not let in. In this way, for inspection, before and even during the oc- help them in the following matter. Appar- they arrested about 30 people. From this cupation—I knew the remaining stock prod- ently there was for sale an entire printing group of arrested individuals, two women (a ucts of the co-ops, and I tried to get to know press hidden from the Germans by one of the cook and her daughter assisting her) sur- people whom I could trust. printer compositors somewhere in a barn in vived; all the remaining people died from ex- Verifying the percent of so called the countryside. But for this printing press, haustion at labor or were executed by shoot- ‘‘tluczek’’ (breakage) of eggs, ‘‘rozsyp’’ (spill- the compositor wanted money—which needed ing—the men in Auschwitz, the women in age) of flour, cereal or grain, I knew roughly to be organized. I didn’t promise anything at Ravensbruck. I would undoubtedly have how much and of what it was possible to first, because I didn’t have the money, but I shared their fate, if not for the fact that my began some efforts in that direction. In take away without putting people at risk of sister-in-law’s illness and strong pleas kept suspicion by the German authorities. If there Rawa Mazowiecka the director of the agri- me at home. cultural cooperative was my friend, were suspicions about the black market, But I survived luckily for some time after- that was only just half the problem. People Zygmunt Jedlinski. I went to him, explained wards, until the next year, 1942. Because I the situation and asked for help. Over the were in danger of being thrown out of work, was informed that at the Gestapo they are being sent to labor in Germany and so on. time interval of several weeks, Zygmunt inquiring about Marian Wojciechowski, and I sent two ladder wagons loaded with food (all However, if there was suspicion that the food didn’t know which one, then I would change was being handed over to partisans or to the automobiles were requisitioned by the residences often (more or less every 4–6 Germans, and for the Poles they were unat- Jews—there was the threat of punishment by months). The last residence I rented in War- death, preceded by torturing all suspects and tainable). The printing press was purchased saw was in Zoliborz, in the housing co-op of for the money received from the sale of this their families. We had to help, but always we musicians—the landlord of the residence, had to be cautious. My colleague Wegierski’s food on the black market. This was one of who also was a Wojciechowski (but the first printing presses in service of the friend came to me to the office several Kazimierz) besides, was a musician. times, and if I had them—I always gave him Polish underground in Warsaw. I continued to travel around the General some contacts in the cooperatives of the The Germans depended very much on the Government region. One day, shortly after Warsaw or Radom districts. A contact could agricultural cooperatives that supplied food the arrests at the restaurant, Kazik be the director of the cooperative, the direc- for them on location, as well as for the resi- Wegierski came to me and announced to me, tor of a certain section. the warehouse keep- dents of the Reich. Because of this, they that he would like me to meet his sister who er, the bookkeeper or also even an ordinary wanted to have precise reports and inven- had just arrived from Lodz. I went to visit laborer who was initiated into the under- tories regarding existing cooperatives. The them, we talked some, and when the family ground. execution of such reports also constituted went to bed, Kazik’s sister told me that she Only after the war, looking at a photo- my work. Traveling around to the coopera- has a task for me. She worked in reconnais- graph in the press, I recognized that friend of tives as an inspector, I had special privileges sance and needed a place near the border of my colleague Wegierski. It was Julian in buying tickets for busses and trains, of the General Government on the train line Grobelny, founder of the Council to Assist course only in work-related matters. I made Lowicz-Zychlin-Kutno, where couriers cross- the Jews, ‘‘Zegota.’’ During that time he was the most of these trips to contact other or- ing the border could stay the night for some ganizations. They were given information, rest and a place to sleep. After a few months, buying food and was more than likely pro- ´ and communiques, meetings and terms were her brother advised her to ask me for help. I viding it for Jews. discussed, and so on. promised that I would look around. Under 4. ARRESTED BY THE GESTAPO Springtime 1941 was the date set for the the German occupation Warsaw, Sochaczew I was arrested in Radom, where I had meeting of the representatives of the organi- and Lowicz still belonged to the General moved, because in Warsaw it was ‘‘too tight’’ zation ‘‘Raclawice.’’ This meeting was to Government, however the next train sta- for me, the Gestapo was tripping over my take place in the cooperative restaurant in tion—Zychlin—was already on the side of the heels. In Radom, I resided at the local high Warsaw in the evening. I was going to that Reich, or territory incorporated into Ger- school teacher’s home (as I recall, his name meeting from Nowe Miasto near Pilica, many. As quarters for the woman courier, was Oder). On April 23, 1942, at night, the Ge- where I was staying with my brother after stapo was battering at the door of the house recent surgery on my appendix. At depar- Lowicz seemed the best fit to me, especially ture, my brother asked me to take along his since I had very good relations there in the where I lived. At that time I was not at wife, who was going to visit her family in local agricultural-commerce co-op. That per- home, and the landlord tried to open and es- Sandomierz and continue further on to son was a woman courier of the Polish un- cape through the back door, but they shot Polaniec, and was going to have to change derground (Kazik’s sister from Lodz, Wanda him in the leg. His son died from the wounds trains in Warsaw. I agreed readily and prom- Wegierska). Because of the assignment of the received during the shooting. The Gestapo ised to help my sister-in-law to transfer from liaison of the Polish underground, she took inquired about me and found out that I was one train station to the other. Meanwhile, on German citizenship, traveled quite often working in the cooperative. The next day, my sister-in-law suddenly got sick on the across the border into German territory, met they went to the office of the Union of Agri- train, so that in Warsaw, instead of escorting there with our intelligence personnel and cultural and Economic Cooperatives, and her to the second train station, I took her to brought back from them information, among without mentioning my name, made a gen- my place on the Aleje Niepodleglosci. I other things including the localization of eral survey of the employees. They made ac- brought over a woman doctor acquaintance German armament plants. This information cusations that the office produced fictional of mine, brought medicine from the phar- was transmitted from Warsaw to London via work cards for people who in reality don’t macy and gave it to my sister-in-law. She al- radio, to be utilized for bombing raids by the work there. Under that pretext, they ready felt significantly better. I announced British air force. The woman courier (a checked the entire registered personnel to her that in the evening I was going to the young girl, about 18–19 years old) realized at ‘‘from a to z,’’ what and where a given indi- meeting. My sister-in-law began to cry, she one point in Berlin that she was being fol- vidual did during a given day. By this meth- didn’t know my landlords, they didn’t know lowed, and she fled to hide in the hotel. od they got to me, and learned at which co- her, she was afraid to remain by herself Sometimes even very sensible and brave peo- op I was performing an inspection at that without my care. She finally convinced me ple sometimes do tragically stupid things. point in time. It was in the Wloscianska Ag- with this lamenting so much, that I resigned She did just such a stupid thing. Back in the ricultural-Commerce Cooperative in from attending the evening dinner meeting hotel, she wrote several letters, addressed Piotrkow Trybunalski. They returned to of the underground organization the envelopes and mailed them. One of those their headquarters and telephoned the order ‘‘Raclawice’’ in the co-op restaurant. I letters was addressed to me. The Gestapo to arrest me by the local Gestapo. The Ge- planned to find out about the details the intercepted the letters and copied them stapo came to the commissar of the coopera- next day by going there for breakfast. along with the addresses. The woman courier tive during the dinner hour asking about me. At five in the morning I received a phone was arrested in Berlin only after three or Meanwhile, not expecting anything, I had call from my colleague Wegierski (he was my four months during her third trip. All the re- just had a secret meeting at the cemetery

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.021 H25PT1 H160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005

and returned at noon to the co-op bureau. 5. INTERROGATION AND TORTURE IN RADOM by shooting in the prison or in nearby for- There I found a message that the commissar And so I fell into the hands of the Gestapo, ests, or sent to Auschwitz with a death sen- of the cooperative, a German, wanted to see but with the exception of what they already tence. This sentence was executed by shoot- me in his office. This was nothing unusual, knew about me, I did not provide them with ing in the camp after a two- or several- so I calmly went to his bureau, and the Ge- any other indications. Everything I pos- month stay. Such a sentence was not sent stapo were already there waiting for me. sessed was ‘‘clean,’’ because anything else after me. I was transported to Auschwitz, They checked my personal documents and had been burned. but all my things were returned to my moth- informed me that I was under arrest. The During the first few days of my stay at the er with the announcement of my death. They protestations of the German commissar, who prison, I received a package with a large pot didn’t want to release the body, but they needed my help in the work of the coopera- of buckwheat cereal. The Gestapo checked sent a message that I am no longer on this tive, did not help. I was arrested; the Radom this cereal rather thoroughly, but fortu- earth. Gestapo demanded my immediate transport nately, they did not find the tiny rolled up 6. AUSCHWITZ to Radom. At the moment of the arrest, I ball of paper hidden inside it. It contained In the camp I met with a series of events had on my person several ‘‘trefne’’ (secret only the brief piece of information, that the that appeared to be miraculous, or perhaps under ground) documents, that is, such that Wegierskis had been arrested with their en- accidental coincidences ordained by the should not, under any circumstances, fall tire family. I did not receive any additional Providence of God. It is difficult for me to into German hands. Handing over my brief- information: why, who and how. Kazik say that God wanted to retain my person, be- case to a colleague who was my assistant-ap- Wegierski, a scout instructor (I believe from cause there were so many who were so much prentice, I told him quietly to burn whatever the scout troop ‘‘Wigry’’) was that colleague better and so much more needed. But it all could be damaging to us. Unfortunately, I from work and the underground, who had in- happened so that I was saved. also had some papers on me in my clothes; I formed me earlier in Warsaw about the I arrived at Auschwitz as a complete could not get rid of these without attracting ‘‘mushroom poisoning,’’ or ‘‘wpadka’’ human ruin: I could not bend or move my the attention of the Gestapo. We arrived in (deconspiration of a cell of my underground hands. At the camp apels, when the orders Radom (that was April 24, 1942) around 11 pm organization). He was very actively engaged ‘‘caps off’’ or ‘‘caps on’’ were issued, I at night. And here, fate was kind to me in a in the Polish underground, and his sister was grabbed the cap on my head without feeling most miraculous way. that courier who traveled to Germany for re- it in my fingers. Not obeying the command Now, about a month earlier I was taking connaissance. risked being beaten or even being killed on the train from Radom to Warsaw. At the I wasn’t sure what the Gestapo already the spot. train station, using my cooperative inspec- knew or what it didn’t know, but just in They took me to Block 11, the block of tor’s identification card, I could buy a train case, I didn’t admit to anything. For the death. Had they learned about my state and ticket without having to wait in line (this first interrogation, there arrived at the pris- that I was unable to work, a death sentence was no small matter: there were barely 20 would have been immediate. I was unfit for tickets available for about 200 people in the on a special envoy from German intelligence, who spoke Polish perfectly. As it turned out. work, so there was no reason why I should be queue). At that time, there walked up to me kept alive. In such a state, I was held in the a stranger in the uniform of a prison guard, he knew Poland, and about two weeks ear- lier, that is, right before the outbreak of death block for a day or two. I was hit over asking me to help him to buy a ticket: he the head with a club several times, but after had received a telegram that his sister in war, he had returned to Germany from a ski trip to Zakopane. He wanted me to tell him about a week they sent me, in a group of Warsaw is dying and he desperately wanted about 20 prisoners, to the kitchen for food, everything that I knew about people ac- to visit her (he was going to be busy at work for the afternoon soup. This soup—a bit of quainted with me, where they work, what the next day). I like people and I like to help water with some thing like nettle in it—and they do. Naturally, when it came to them. Therefore, I agreed, and I bought him yet hot, was carried on poles in barrels of Wegierski, I pretended not to know any- a ticket in the next ticket cashier’s window various dimensions (25, 50 liters) by two pris- thing. At that point, there was not yet any to avoid suspicion. And it so happened, that oners. They sent a few too many people to beating or anything of that sort. The person we were passengers in the same train car and carry the soup, under the assumption that leading the interrogation said, that’s too chatted with each other a bit. there would be more barrels. But as it turned bad, that I don’t know anything. and left the When, in accordance with their received out, the barrels were larger and a few of us prison. About two weeks later at the next in- orders the Gestapo brought me to the Radom didn’t have to carry anything. I tried to walk prison that night, it was this ‘‘acquaintance’’ terrogation I was beaten so thoroughly, that in the back, so that they would not choose from the train station who was the guard on after finishing they threw me into the cell me when changing carriers, because I knew duty! completely disabled. that I would be unable to carry the barrel. On the first floor of the prison building Normal interrogation took place in this And spilling the soup, especially a barrel of there was the criminal section (for prisoners way, that in the attic of the Gestapo head- soup—that would have been death on the accused of theft, etc.) and on the upper floor, quarters, they would put handcuff the pris- spot for certain, for the reckless denial of I believe either on the second or third story, oner’s hands in back of him, tie the hand- food for many people. And after all, I could there was the political section. After bring- cuffs to a rope hanging from the ceiling, and not tell them that I had no feeling in my ing me in, the Gestapo led me to the guard pull the rope upwards so that one would hang hands. So I walked in the back of the group on duty and told him to sign a document above the floor of the attic at the height of of these carriers down a street leading to that I had been delivered. When he signed an average chair or table. Then, there would Block 11, and suddenly I saw a man in front the receipt for my person, they left, leaving take place a beating over the entire body, in- of me, coming closer, also wearing prison me in his responsibility. We were left alone, cluding the head and legs. A person would be garb, but shaped and well-fitting. We got and we began a discussion as to what to do completely covered in blood. Because I was closer to each other and both of us stood: next. My eventual escape would risk repara- hanging by my hands with the entire weight ‘‘Marian, is that you?’’ and I answered, tions against our entire families (his and of my body, and sometimes pulled down- ‘‘Zdzisiek, is that you?’’ It turned out that mine), as well as against my colleagues from wards by my legs, I lost complete use of my this was my friend, with whom I shared a work and from home. I felt that it was too fingers and hands already after the second room in 1937–1938 at the cavalry training cen- dangerous not only for my loved ones, but interrogation. It was possible to prick me in ter in Grudziadz for a period of about 9 also for the family of the prison guard. I de- the fingers, and I would not be able to feel it. months. At that time, after military service, cided that I do not have the right to put so I could not bend my arms at the elbows, so I returned to work in the co-op movement, many people in danger, and I decided not to that when eating, for example, a piece of and he remained in the army as a candidate escape. The guard advised me to destroy any- bread, I had to use a spoon, because I could or a career officer. During the occupation, he thing that was ‘‘trefne’’ (secret underground not reach my mouth with my hand. They was rounded up along with all the remaining documents) that I had with me. In the mid- maltreated me horribly. Luckily, my prison men on a train on the Krakow-Tarnow line dle of a large hall on the first floor in which guard acquaintance alerted the persons indi- and sent to Auschwitz. Because the man was we found ourselves, there stood a huge stove cated by me about my imprisonment. These strong and healthy, he survived the first few (so called ‘‘koza’’) with a fire burning inside. individuals tried to help me through the months in the camp not all that badly, and The guard lifted the cover of the stove and commissar of the co-op union where I then people like that, if they were able to do said: ‘‘Throw it in here.’’ I had with me a worked, and also through his secretary. As I something, were assigned various positions notebook with coded names, telephone num- learned later in the Gross Rosen camp, where in maintaining the camp. My friend Zdzisiek bers and addresses. Without knowing the I met the son-in-Law of my Radom land- Wroblewski was appointed as the block code, it would have been difficult to decode lords, it was that German woman secretary scribe: he had the responsibility of keeping them. However, the Gestapo could come to who suggested that one of the stapo (he had the prisoners’ register up to date, where and the conclusion that the information in the a high position and loved to play around) be what each one was doing at each hour. We notebook is coded, and with additional beat- bribed. Of course, there could in no way be briefly recounted to each other our histories; ings maybe get that necessary information any agreement about my release from pris- he decided to accompany me. He went with out of me. Without a moment’s hesitation, I on, but it was about sending me to Ausch- me to block monitor—it was a German took advantage of the ‘‘koza’’ and threw in witz without a death sentence. Normally in criminal, who beat and killed people without my notebook along with the rest of the similar incidences the prisoner, after the in- hesitation; he told him not to do me any ‘‘trefne’’ papers into the fire. terrogations were concluded, was executed harm, because I was his friend.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 04:00 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.022 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H161 In about a week, Zdzisiek arranged to have sister, Wanda Wegierska, caught by the Ger- in the treatment. Once again, God showed me transferred to his block. I don’t know mans and accused of spying, was sentenced His mercy. How was I treated? They cut off how he did that, but at the new place there to death and executed by beheading in the a small barrel and installed heating ele- were many former colleagues and acquaint- prison in Berlin. Working for the Polish in- ments in the form of several light bulbs. ances from various political parties and fac- telligence, she presented herself as a German They would place me on blankets on the tions, from various universities and various citizen and that type of death was adminis- ground, they would place the so ‘‘armed’’ cities. They already had formed an entire un- tered to her. For her achievements in the un- barrel on my chest, and they would connect derground organization Auschwitz, and ev- derground resistance movement, she re- the electrical wire conduit to the electrical eryone helped each other as much as was ceived the Virtuti Military Cross post- contact. After a half hour of such heating, I possible. Zdzisiek drew me to him and said humously after the war, and was also pro- was almost unconscious, but the blanket on that he would make me a ‘‘sztubowy.’’ The moted to the rank of second lieutenant. She which I was laying was completely wet from ‘‘sztubowy’’ was responsible for one large was the woman courier about whom I spoke the water coming out from within my body. camp ward. I told him that I was not suitable earlier at the beginning of my lecture. Besides this, the water from my side was ex- for that function; I saw that a ‘‘sztubowy’’ After getting well, I was sent back to the tracted with the help of a syringe. When the beats people, hitting them with a ladle wher- block of my friend Zdzisiek, who started to SS-man who was writing down the numbers ever it fell. I was not suited for this. Zdzisiek look for work for me. He found for me the of the prisoners for execution, because they replied, ‘‘Listen, this is the way it is here, position of bookkeeper for a German civil- were very sick and not fit for work, would that either you will beat, or you will be beat- ian—an engineer, assigned to supervise the draw near us, a well-organized camp intel- en.’’ But I refused; I wanted to be in the mid- storage of building and construction mate- ligence would warn us ahead of time. Then I dle, to not beat and not to be beaten. So I rials intended for the camp, as well as for would be pulled out of bed, wrapped in a bounced here and there, working in different military objectives. At the Auschwitz camp blanket and placed on the ground by a wall. commandos in the camp territory. there was a main warehouse of that type. At That was done with prisoners who had al- A typhus epidemic broke out. Two blocks the beginning, we observed each other: on ready died, because at the morning, after- were reserved for the sick. The Germans the third day of such an acquaintance, the noon and evening apels every man in every were not at all that concerned about the engineer placed a piece of bread with mar- block had to be accounted for. After the SS- prisoners, who were dying in masses from malade on my table, and later we began to man left, my friend the tailor, along with his the typhus, but they were afraid of getting talk with each other. Of course, I did not friends, put me back into bed. This would be infected themselves. Because the prisoner admit to my underground connections. Our repeated during my entire stay at the hos- worked in many sections, for example, in the conversations were held cautiously and only pital. canteens where they had contact with SS- inside the building. The German warned me Meanwhile on the block to which I be- men, they could infect them. One day, two that if our contacts were revealed, then he longed. Zdzisiek had a fatal fallout. He orga- large trucks arrived, onto which were loaded would become a prisoner like myself, and I nized contacts from outside the camp for the all the people in those two ‘‘typhus’’ blocks: would end up in the crematorium. We purpose of bringing in medicines for so many the sick, the reconvalescing and the order- worked together, we exchanged words of sick prisoners. This was realized in the fol- lies. They were all gassed. Less than a week greeting, the relationship between us was ar- lowing way: Some of the specialists (for ex- later, I fell ill with typhus myself. My com- ranged on a level plane of not so much as ample, welders, plumbers. and so on) needed panions in adversity took me arm in arm and work colleague or friend, but human being in the camp were imported as civilian work- ers from outside the camp. Zdzisiek would led me to the receiving hall for the sick, and nonetheless. pass on a list of needed medicines to them, then they themselves had to quickly report After about two weeks, my work was which they would bring to the camp at the to work. The doctor in reception, a young changed: at the Sunday morning apel, I was next opportunity. One of those workers was Jew fresh after medical studies (probably assigned along with about a hundred other caught with such a list during inspection, from Hungary) had already been alerted prisoners to clean the overgrown drainage and under torture revealed who had given it about my coming by my colleagues or their ditches outside the camp. Standing on the to him. Zdzisiek was arrested immediately acquaintances. At that very moment an SS- bottom of the ditch with water up to the along with the two ‘‘sztubowy’’ who were re- man appeared. He was an older man, who knees, one had to deepen the trench and hand the soil up to people located higher. sponsible for the wards, which Zdzisiek fre- went about the camp and observed the pris- quented most. Despite the tortures, all three oners, writing down the numbers of those The work assigned to me was at the bottom of the ditch, and any kind of protest would of did not betray anyone and did not admit to who were working poorly—as well those who anything; they all perished either from star- were so weak that they could not work. course risk a beating. At that time I already had enough feeling in my hands so that I vation, or by phenol injection. Had it not These numbers were then passed on to the been for my stay in the hospital, because I camp registry office. All those recorded pris- could hold a shovel, but my fingers were still not fully functional (moreover, that condi- was so closely connected to them, I would oners were then immediately murdered in have probably been also taken, tortured and the gas chambers or (more frequently) by in- tion has persisted till this day). I worked this way for a full day; it was already the bestially murdered. jection with phenol. At the moment of the I stayed in the hospital until the moment middle of November, the water was very SS-man’s arrival, I had already been exam- that my fever dropped, then I had to go back cold. After returning to the camp I was shak- ined by the doctor, with a filled out health to work. I was released from the hospital one ing with the cold, but the next day I went to card. The SS-man came up and took my Sunday and assigned to a different block. do the same work, not saying anything to card, and noticed the high fever. Seeing this, This was the block of the so-called the German engineer with whom I had and knowing that in a moment my number ‘‘Zugange’’ (prisoners newly-arrived to the worked previously. After the second day of would be recorded and passed on for execu- camp as well as prisoners discharged from tion, the doctor quickly reported: ‘‘High working in the ditches. I got a very high the hospital). The ward of the block I was as- fever, for observation.’’ In the Auschwitz fever during the night, and they took me for signed to was located on the first floor; I was camp, on Block 10, there were performed var- a medical examination. It was pure luck that so exhausted by the illness that I would walk ious types of observations and medical ex- there were Polish doctors there, who, even up the wide stairs on all fours. I had a card periments. German doctors inoculated male though they had no medicines, were able to of discharge from the hospital and was as- and female prisoners with bacteria of various do advice what to do. They diagnosed pneu- signed to work the next day. This time the diseases, performed research and observa- monia, pleurisy, water in the side as well as work consisted of arranging in layers boards, tions, and then of course they killed the sub- inflammation of the kidneys. They had no still wet, freshly brought in from the mill, in jects. In connection with this, the visiting, medicinal supplies, because people were held tall stacks with some air draft to dry the SS-man understood that I would be sent in the camp to be finished off, completely boards. To accomplish this, some of the there for observation; he put away his note- without any care as to their medical treat- workers had to climb upwards and pull up book and did not record my number. At that ment. And once again, I met with Divine heavy boards handed up from below. I barely time, I was already semiconscious. Providence. In this so-called hospital to managed to drag myself to the place of work; Next, they sent me to a newly opened which I was taken, there worked a prisoner— I was assigned the work at the top, but I ‘‘revier’’ for those who were sick with ty- called the block tailor, who had been ar- lacked the strength to climb up the stack. phus. I was visited there by my friend and rested along with one of my friends. This Even if I had been able to do so, with the one of the leaders of the conspiracy— friend, like me, was a recipient of one of the frosty weather (and it was about the middle Kazimierz Wegierski, who was arrested even letters from our woman courier, which had of January) I would undoubtedly have frozen earlier than I. During his interrogation, the been intercepted by the Gestapo. The Ge- to death or, unable to climb down, would Gestapo beat him so severely that his kid- stapo came for him at his place of work—a have been pushed off to the ground, breaking neys, liver and other internal organs were tailor shop on Wiejska Street right nearby my bones. I thought to myself then, there is damaged. As a result, this very slender man the Sejm. He was arrested along with other no point in climbing up, better let them kill was so badly swollen that I could not recog- workers. A handy tailor from just that group me here on the ground and it will be the end nize him. He died the next day, without be- by the name of Wladek Dabrowski was pres- of it. I decided not to go to the top of the traying anyone to the very end. ently in Auschwitz. He performed a series of stack—this was a refusal to work, which in From the entire group that was arrested tailoring tasks for the camp ‘‘dignitaries’’— the camp meant inevitable death. along with him, not one person broke under the functionaries and the SS-men. Wladek At that time there was in Auschwitz an cruel interrogation, no one was betrayed. His and I recognized each other and he helped me obercapo of the Bauhoff (building section), a

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:04 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.024 H25PT1 H162 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 German criminal prisoner known as ‘‘Bloody pulled from many other camps (from spent the next week working additionally August,’’ who was renowned for his cruelty. Majdanek and others). In the construction of until about 11 or 12 at night, in search of the Tall, thin, with long hands like an ape. It the barracks there were used ready-made owners of the parcels. The beginning was the was enough for him to smack a prisoner with slabs which had to be put together, next the hardest, that is, finding the first few. Next, such a hand, to make a corpse out of him. I windows were mounted, and also finishing those who were found helped me to find the suddenly saw that ‘‘Bloody August’’ from a work was performed. Part of the work was next addressees. And in this way during the distance of about 10 meters. I thought that done in the interiors, where it was hot, and week we unloaded the entire shipment of this is the end of me; but he suddenly be- for other types of work one had to run, and parcels, additionally earning the confidence came interested in someone else, jumped to fast at that, outside. Under these conditions of the director of the post office, SS-man the side and reached him, getting further I caught a very severe cold, I was close to Layer, and of Raportfurer Eschner with this away from me. However, the other person ac- pneumonia, I had trouble with breathing and work well done. companying him came up to me. Normally, a speaking. My olleagues decided to help me, Shortly thereafter, this SS-man’s goodwill, prisoner of the concentration camp when ap- taking me to the ‘‘revier’’ where I could rest. earned in this way, became very useful to proached by anyone from the camp adminis- I stayed there, and already on the second day me. For one of the prisoners, it pains me to tration, was obligated to take off his cap and there came to my bed the ‘‘revier’’ kapo by say—a Pole (he currently resides in Warsaw), stand at attention. I did not do this; it was the me of Siehsdumich and started a con- supplemented his food rations by stealing a matter of complete indifference to me versation with me. I told him a bit of this the best foodstuffs from some of the pack- whether they would kill me or not. The per- and at about myself, of course hiding my ac- ages, for example, pieces of sausage. Notic- son approaching me noticed that, came up tivity in the underground; he asked me from ing this process, of course I did not denounce closer, looked at me and said in German: here do I know German so well, and learning him, but I sharply called his attention to it ‘‘Marian, is that you?’’ I recognized that it about my education he proposed a more re- to have him stop doing this. I even threat- was the German engineer, for whom I had sponsible job. He suggested a project employ- ened him, that the next time this offense oc- worked as a bookkeeper. He asked what I ing me in the camp post office, the parcel curred, he would receive from me a healthy was doing here, why I didn’t come to him to section. This change suited me very much lesson. The angry prisoner, along with an- work. I answered, that they assigned me to and I began the new work of receiving and other Polish ‘‘volksdeutch,’’ wrote a denun- different work, that I had been in the hos- delivering parcels. ciation about me, that I was taking advan- pital and then they told me to report to the Some time later there came to Gross tage of my work at the post office to send present work site. I added, that I could not Rosen a transport of prisoners from letters outside the camp, even though I was perform the work, because I did not have the Majdanek. Right after that, a few weeks under the so-called ‘‘Postsperre’’ (forbidden later, this was followed by a large shipment to write letters, and to receive letters and strength to do it, therefore because of that from Majdanek of food parcels which had packages). I knew nothing about this denun- they will kill me. The engineer looked at me been sent to these prisoners by their fami- ciation. One day, when I arrived at work, the and told me to come with him. He took me lies. The director of the post office, SS SS-man, director of the post office to a huge storage place for pipes and other Unterscharfurer Layer, decided to send the Unterscharfuhrer, called me to his office and plumbing parts. Outside the building there packages back to the families, because some told me from whom and what kind of denun- were all kinds of concrete pipes, and inside of the addresses were no longer current. The ciation was deposed about me. The main there were copper and nickel pipes, as well as parcels were delivered to the prisoners in ac- chief of the political section of the camp, all sorts of joints for pipes. The director of cordance with their prisoner number as well representing the highest authority of the Ge- this whole warehouse was a prisoner from as the number of the block in which they stapo in the camp, came to him to verify this Stalowa Wola, engineer Sledziewski or slept and ate. The first and last names of the and to eventually take me in for interroga- maybe Sledzinski. The German led me to prisoners were not important, it was only tion. ‘‘My’’ SS-man supervisor guaranteed him and said that he is leaving me with him those numbers that mattered. However, after that it was not true, that I am a very good as his responsibility, turned around and left. arrival in Gross Rosen from Majdanek, pris- worker, and that the denunciation was prob- Sledziewski knew nothing about me, but he oners were located in a new block and re- ably caused by jealousy. In the conversation saw that I was barely able to stand on my ceived a new prisoner number, so that find- with me he added, that he was not asking me feet. He told me to sit down, brought me a ing the original addressees among so many if the accusation is true, but warned me not piece of bread, pointed to the hot water for thousands of prisoners was unusually com- to do anything like that, and also not to bread soup. And I sat like that next to him, plicated. Therefore, the director of the post mention our conversation to anyone. This by the hot stove, not doing anything for office decided to send back the entire trans- SS-man saved my life then, because the de- about two or three days. port of parcels to the senders. I knew that nunciation about me was true. Of course, Under camp conditions this was something with the hunger prevailing in the camp, the having correspondence forbidden to me completely unheard of and meant inevitable return of the food packages constituted a (camp authorities ordered such types of pro- death. Soon we began to talk with each huge loss: in addition, the families of the hibition concerning certain dangerous pris- other; I told him everything about myself prisoners receiving the returns will be con- oners). I would occasionally send letters, honestly. When I had rested some, I started vinced that the addressees were dead. This availing myself of the kindness of my col- to help him more and more. I worked in this type of explanation would not be effective leagues, who were able to write once or twice way to approximately the middle of March, with the director of the post office, who was a month to their loved ones. From time to 1943, when the transfer of prisoners from an SS-man. Certainly he was not concerned time (for example, once a year) they would Auschwitz to other camps was begun, be- with the hunger of the prisoners and the pain give up one of their own letters so I could cause the Auschwitz camp was already over- of the families. I decided then, to propose send one of my own, signed with their name loaded. other arguments to him. I told him that re- and number (and to these same numbers 7. GROSS ROSEN—ROGOZNICA turning the packages places an additional there could also come a reply to me from my I was sent to the camp in Gross Rosen. The burden on the communication centers, whose family, which they then transmitted to me stay in Gross Rosen began as usual with a main purpose should be services for the Ger- later). quarantine. Even before it was over, I was man populace and armed forces. I cited the Luckily, the matter of the denunciation sent to Hirshberg (today, Jelenia Go´ ra) to slogan placed on German trains: ‘‘Die Rader ended on this note without any con- work on the construction of a factory to rollen fur den Sieg’’ (‘‘The wheels are rolling sequences. Additionally in my favor there make products from wood fibers. The task of for victory.’’) With this I convinced the Ger- was also the following fact from the recent the workers was construction of timbering man, who asked me for advice what to do, work time spent building the warehouse in for cement walls. I volunteered as a car- because it would be difficult to just dis- Hirschberg. Due to intervention from the penter, trying to avoid work with sand or ce- tribute the packages at random. I offered to International Red Cross to the highest Ger- ment, where one had to work full speed run- help: if I received permission from the com- man authorities in Berlin, it was demanded ning with wheelbarrows filled with sand or mandant of the camp and his deputy that all prisoners receive the order one Sun- cement; with this, one received a lot of (Raportfuhrer Eschner) to spend additional day to write a letter home. I reflected on lashes. The work of a carpenter, requiring hours during the week working in the camp what I should do. Since I had the precision in matching timber or boards, was chancellery after normal work hours, then I ‘‘Postsperre’’ (under penalty of death, it was slower. Later, I was even appointed the sec- would attempt to find the addressees of the forbidden to send out or receive any kind of retary of the entire group, because it turned parcels, by comparing their former reg- correspondence or parcel, which effectively out that the former candidate for the posi- istered numbers with the currently assigned made the prisoner ‘‘dead’’ to the outside tion was unable to write well, and quickly. numbers, as well as searching for the block world), I delayed with writing the letter, in So I held the position of carpenter and sec- in which they were presently residing. fear of the consequences. So I went to the retary until about November, when they In the camp registry office, there were card commandant of the subcamp Hirschberg and brought us from Hirschberg back to the index tiles of the mother camp Gross Rosen asked what I should do. After coming to an mother camp of Gross Rosen. There I was and all the subcamps of this region, all living agreement with the main camp, he said that again employed as a carpenter in the con- and dead prisoners with their new numbers, the prohibition is binding and that I am not struction of new barracks. One had to work occupation, and cause of death in case the allowed to write. This proof of subordination very fast, because everyday there arrived prisoners were no longer alive. After receiv- was registered in my records, and also helped new transports of thousands of prisoners ing the consent of the camp authorities, I me to survive in face of the denunciation.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.026 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H163 A group of prisoners from Majdanek, who camp, by which they really raised their While still in the concentration camps, we received food parcels thanks to my work, hopes for surviving. And that was a great all knew about the fate of the Polish officers was most grateful to me. Hunger ruled in the deal. Caught red-handed listening to this at Katyn. The German press made this camp; food parcels were unbelievably valu- radio, despite terrible beatings and other known, and it was confirmed by the Polish able. They invited me most warmly for a tortures, he did not betray anyone, taking underground press, with the exception of tasty treat, but I declined—not accepting the entire responsibility on himself. The liq- procommunist gazettes. We already knew even a piece from anyone. At that time, I uidation of camp Gross Rosen probably saved about the mass arrests of Poles on terri- worked inside the building and not that him from death. tories taken over by Russia and of their hard, so it wasn’t very bad for me; if they One evening, a group of Polish colleagues transports under terrible conditions to Sibe- wanted to, then they could share the food at work digging the tunnel, reported to me— ria. We already knew what would be waiting products with their friends and colleagues. explaining, that the German supervisor for us there, if we believed in the communist Helping my colleagues I saw as my duty, working there, who murdered people at prattle and headed east. That’s why we had without accepting even the smallest pay- work, had already promised one Pole that he already planned earlier to head west. The ment, not even in the form of food. would finish him off the next day. This Pole, roads were already obstructed with German 8. LEITMERITZ already sentenced for extermination, was en- deserters and other nationalities in all direc- gineer Dr. Henryk Stankiewicz, docent lec- In January 1945, the German-Russian bat- tions. Almost everywhere there were orga- turer of the Warsaw Politechnical School (as tles already moved to the west of Wroclaw. nized kitchens for the fugitives. Without I recall, before the war he specialized in re- The prisoners were transported by train and greater obstacles, we made it to the vicinity search on the endurance of building mate- on foot to the west. As I recall, on the 4th or of Pilzno. There, on the main road to Ger- rials). Because I could not take more than 5th of February 1945 there occurred the final many, we were stopped by an American pa- three people to work, I had to release some- liquidation of the concentration camp Gross trol. Only those who had documents proving one in order to take in Stankiewicz. I de- Rosen. They loaded us on various uncovered that they resided in the west were allowed to cided to dismiss Jerzy Cesarski, who scolded train cars (for example, coal cars). They go on. Residents of Central and Eastern Eu- me terribly, that I was sacrificing a political packed as many of us as possible into each rope were to return to their homes. The activist in favor of some kind of engineer. train car, putting in one or two SS-men with three of us went off to the side to consult on Fortunately, both survived and both re- machine guns. All prisoners were told to what to do. A young Czech boy was listening turned to Poland. On a marginal note on this kneel or to sit, and who ever raised himself in on our conversation. Apparently he under- matter, I will only add that as I recall, the or stood up was immediately shot. The train stood our situation, because he informed us 68-year old SS-man who watched us, of Czech drew near several locations where there were that he could show us where to cross the bor- origin, and who knew the Czech, German, concentration camps, but they were already der. He returned with us part of the way to- Russian and even the Polish language rather overfilled. On some stops, the bodies of dead wards the village, then turned off to the side well, stated to us at the very beginning, that prisoners were removed from the wagons. Fi- through the field boundary strips, in the di- in his presence we can say whatever we like nally we reached Flossenburg, and from rection of some small shrubs and thickets, about Hitler and the Germans, but if his wife there the subcamp Leitmeritz. It was a camp and said that beyond those shrubs we would or his daughters arrived, we were not al- of murderous labor in digging tunnels into reach a grove, and beyond that would be Ger- lowed to say anything, because they were the rock walls, into which were then placed many. That’s how we made it to the German real Germans and would immediately report machines to produce armaments and ammu- locality in the area of Schwandorf, and then this fact to the Gestapo. nition. The mountains protected the produc- further on to the town of Amberg, where a To build the house for the commandant of tion against bombing explosions. Those pris- Polish DP (Displaced Persons) camp was the camp (it was already under roofing) we oners who were still alive in the last few being formed. There the commandant of the had absolutely no materials and no desire. train cars, where I also found myself, re- camp, a prisoner of concentration camps, a We spent our whole time looking for wood ceived orders to take the corpses out of the major in the AK (Armia Krajowa—Polish remnants nearby, which we exchanged with wagons outside, and lay them out on the em- Home Army), Wojcik (Jozef was his first the local residents for a beet, a turnip, a few bankments along the railroad tracks. This name, I think) greeted us, and in a pleasant, potatoes, or a piece of bread. From these caused a considerable delay in entering the friendly new-camp atmosphere we slowly re- products we would make a soup, which we camp itself. Walking in through the gate, I gained our old selves mentally and phys- shared honestly with our guard. This com- heard someone calling my name. It turned ically, after the tragic experiences of the mando was kept for me for a long time, so out that they were the former prisoners of preceding years. The nightmare of German that I think that it was due to the gratitude the Majdanek camp, and later Gross Rosen, concentration camps still remained in our shown me for that time in Gross Rosen. I whose parcels from their families I had res- subconsciousness for decades and even now have great respect and gratitude for my col- cued in Gross Rosen, with that additional after more than fifty years of freedom, some- leagues. night work in the camp registry office. times I wake up from a terrible dream and I After the quarantine, the entire transport 9. ESCAPE FROM THE TRANSPORT ON FOOT see the silent pleading eyes of my friends of prisoners was sent to set up camp In the months of March and April 1945, the standing in front of the camp administration Leitmeritz, and many of them now occupied Russian armies were pressing to the west. office in Gross Rosen, under the guard of SS- good positions (for example, as functionaries One could hear in the distance somewhere men, I hear the shots into the back of their of the camp’s firefighting service). Out of the bombs bursting and the cannonade of the skulls; and I sense and I see in the dream the gratitude, they fed me and my colleagues, artillery. All work outside the barbed wire of black cloud of smoke weaving lazily out of assigned me a bed to sleep on (many of the the camp was halted, and also within our the crematorium. Those who survived this prisoners slept two or three on one bed or on commando. Whole columns of prisoners were hell did not speak of it for a long time. But the ground) and arranged work for me out- prepared to march out one after the other it is necessary to talk about it, so that the side the main camp, under good conditions, somewhere to the west. On May 5, 1945, my memory will not be obliterated, so that the at the construction of a house for the camp colleagues Wisniewski and Stankiewicz, and history of the Polish Holocaust will not be commandant. Because the German criminal I were included in such a column marching further falsified. prisoners, and especially those so-called on foot. In the camp it was already a public 10. THE POLISH CIVILIAN GUARD ‘‘kapo,’’ had already been dismissed by then secret that the prisoners in the transports on In August and September 1945, the news from the camps, and after a short training foot, who no longer had the strength to con- spread around in Amberg that: were sent to the eastern front, they made me tinue further, were finished off with a rifle (1) the Polish DP camp in Amberg would be the ‘‘kayo’’ of that group. I chose the fol- shot and left by the roadside to be buried by transferred to a larger camp in Wildflecken, lowing individuals for the group: the local residents. Long marches, often (2) the Americans were organizing the Pol- (1) Kazimierz Wisniewski, former student without food and water, left numerous vic- ish Civilian Guard and Transitional Training of the Szkola Glowna Handlowa in Warsaw tims. Therefore, at the first occasion during Camps. (Warsaw School of Economics), still sick the night, walking through a dense forest, at The commandant of our camp, Major Jozef after typhus. a given password all three of us jumped into Wojcik, became the commandant of one of (2) Jerzy Cesarski, pre-war activist of the the roadside thicket. We waited until the en- such camps (Wincer) and asked me to help in PPS (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna) and an tire column passed us and then we hid our- enrolling participants. I traveled around the active member of the underground. selves in even thicker shrubs and waited for DP camps, made speeches and kept sending (3) A German (whose name I do not remem- sunrise. In the morning, we turned into the to Wincer even more candidates for the Ci- ber) ‘‘kapo’’ of the electricians in the com- first forest path crossing, which led us to a vilian Guard. Finally-late in the autumn of mando ‘‘Steinbruch,’’ the exploitation of the Czech village, where we were greeted very, 1945, 1 also went through a period of training quarries in camp Gross Rosen. He was known very hospitably. Bathed, fed and dressed in as a second lieutenant, and at the beginning for secretly constructing a radio receiver to- clean undergarments, and in clean albeit old of 1946, our Civilian Guard company was sent gether with a few Poles and Germans; they clothes, we finally felt like human beings. into service at Bad Aibling (near Rosenheim jointly listened to the radio broadcasts from The Czechs informed us that the Russian ar- by Munich). As I recall, there were three of London and also news about the situation of mies were already in Prague (or in the vicin- our companies all-together. We performed battles on the fronts, and passed them on by ity of Prague), and the American armies our duty by guarding German POWs; me- word of mouth to their colleagues in the were in the area of Pilzno. chanical vehicles and their spare parts; and

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.027 H25PT1 H164 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 stores of weapons, ammunition, etc. In the During the autumn of 1947, I moved with nationality, who, after interrogation by Ge- summer of 1946. they transferred our com- my family to the Polish DP camp in stapo in various cities are sent to the camp pany for repeat short training do Mannheim Hochenfels (Lecho´ w) near Regensburg, where in Gross Rosen, but with a sentence of death. Kafertal. There I found many young officers I was drawn immediately into collaborative These individuals after a few months were and soldiers whom I knew from my college work with a circle of farmers; and I began called to the Political Section; after their years, my military service and during my lectures on economics and accounting sub- identity had been verified, they were made professional work. I became friends with the jects. After a few months, they offered me a to stand at attention before the camp admin- deputy of the leader of the Civilian Guard of position with the chief Polonian organiza- istration office, until a designated SS-man the American Army, Lieutenant-Colonel tion in the American-occupied zone in Ger- would lead them to the crematorium and Wladyslaw Rylko, and he, knowing that I am many, called ‘‘Zjednoc zenie Polskie’’ (‘‘Pol- there kill them with a phenol injection, gas a member of the cooperative movement, ish Union’’) with headquarters in or a bullet. Then on the prisoner’s card file asked me for help in organizing co-ops in the Regensburg—Brunnleite 7. But that is a com- in the camp registry office would be noted Civilian Guard companies. I began work on pletely different topic. the date and the letters ‘‘ABE’’ which meant preparing the statutes as well as the ac- 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH WAS NOT ‘‘Auf Befehl Erschossen’’—shot on orders. counting forms and cash settlements. How- Because Polish names are difficult to re- PRESENTED AT THE DISCUSSION CLUB ever, since part of the company to which I member for foreigners, the Belgian prepared was assigned was transferred to Buttelborn Due to lack of time and the huge amount a short list with the names of the new Polish near Gross Gerau in the vicinity of Darm- of material to discuss, I did not touch on prisoners that were under a sentence of stadt, in order to guard the warehouses of many details. Having that opportunity pres- death. On one of the first lists was the name automobile parts and automotive service ently, I would like to complete some of the Antoni Suchon, my younger brother’s friend columns, I went along with them. After a few topics in short fashion. from the Stopnica high school. I had already days in Buttelborn, I became aware of two While working in the post office in Gross met with him before in camp. During the things: Rosen in parcel reception, I was also on a German occupation he belonged to the peo- (1) the members of the companies and their block with other prisoners working at the ples’ movement and was a member of the un- families were still somewhat hungry; camp registry office, such as: derground organization. One day, a meeting (2) the American army would employ the In the Political Section, which settled of that organization was scheduled in a vil- Civilian Guard only for as long as they need- prisoner affairs in the course of further in- lage during a dance party. The Germans sur- ed us. In case of dismissal, our soldiers will terrogations (and torture!), verified the rounded all the participants, and Suchon had go looking for work in Germany or through records of prisoners sentenced to death, kept with him a loaded revolver, which he tossed emigration, without possessing any practical under surveillance those prisoners suspected out unnoticed. The Germans found the re- professional skills. of enemy anti-Nazi propaganda or even anti- volver, and in order not to put the others in I resolved to do something to remedy both camp, and hunted after secret underground these cases. Regarding the suffering due to jeopardy of interrogation, torture and maybe organizations in the same camp, as well as even death, he himself confessed during the hunger, I again started up the company co- checked every so often whether prisoners operative. making the bookkeeping, the ac- search that it was he who tossed the gun and with death sentences were really executed counting, and the periodical rights of control that the weapon is his. All were set free, and (by phenol injections, gassing or shooting). by members (the auditing committee) more after interrogation he was sent to camp In the Labor Section, which located and efficient. Regarding the guardsmen’s lack of Gross Rosen with a death sentence. controlled the status of prisoners in all com- The camp in Gross Rosen had many professional skills, I held a meeting of the mandos of the mother camp Gross Rosen and subcamps. In some of them mortality was so soldiers and asked them, who would like to in all its subcamps. high, that rarely were prisoners transferred learn which profession. Next, I applied to the In the Camp Enlargement Section. from them to the mother camp in Gross local village resident Germans individually, In the Post Office Section, and so forth. Rosen in order to execute death sentences. owners of trade workshops, with a request to However, the most important was the Po- accept our candidates for training in the pro- Usually the prisoners died themselves from litical Section and the Labor Section. It de- fession. In this way I was able to accommo- exhaustion or poisoning (for example from pended on them whether one would eventu- date all who wanted to learn. Next, I sat the exhaust fumes in the factory of poison ally survive the camp or not. down with my friend, the leader of the com- gases). The director of the Labor Section was In periods free from work tasks, there were pany. Captain Roman Wcislo-Winnicki, to a small, slender, middle-aged hunchback many occasions for conversations between work out the scheduling of guard service for ‘‘Krieger,’’ who wore the pink triangle (ped- prisoners on various topics, discrete ex- afternoon or evening hours, so that those erast). For a piece of cake, bacon, lard or changes of opinions, getting to know each who wanted to learn could go to work during onion, he agreed to send—without any publi- the day in the trade workshops and learn the other. The highest prominent of the not very cizing—a Polish prisoner to a subcamp des- trade skills. With the help of the educational numerous Polish group in the camp registry ignated by me. In this way the lives of cer- officer of our center, Captain Jerzy Wilski office was Jan Dolinski, a political prisoner tain worthy people were saved. Unfortu- (my colleague from the concentration camp who spoke German excellently, but who did nately, I was unable to save the life of my Gross Rosen), a scouting instructor before not blindly serve the Germans. He did what younger (he was about 26 years old) col- the war, we founded clubs for soccer, basket- he had to. He was polite but he kept his dis- league Antoni Suchon. After several months, ball, volleyball, and an educational club with tance. In the group of foreigners, a young during the afternoon apel, I noticed him a handy reference library and so on. The Ukrainian from the Polish territories, standing at attention before the administra- work came out just fine. It was time to Antoni Kaminski attracted attention (he tion office. He didn’t look too badly, he was think about myself, too. Lieutenant-Colonel was friendly, but something told me to avoid calm, resigned. Already next to him stood Wladyslaw Rylko suggested that I transfer him); and also a tall, stout, middle-aged resi- the SS-man who was to lead him to the cre- to the center of civilian guard training in dent of Belgium or Denmark (I don’t remem- matorium for execution. I wept for Antoni Mannheim Kafertal. I applied to the Univer- ber exactly), with whom I quickly formed a like a child. sity (Wirtschaftshochschule) in Mannheim friendship (unfortunately, I don’t remember Unfortunately one day, probably already in for admission to studies and to work on a his name either). After a short time he told autumn of 1944, as I was returning from work doctorate in economics (Wirtschaftswissen- me, that he worked in the Political Section for the afternoon apel, I noticed my friend schaft). They accepted me and assigned of the camp (Politische Abteilung), that I am the Belgian standing at attention in front of study subjects and an amount of time for on the list of prisoners who are under sur- the camp administration office. I walked two semesters, that is, with a possibility of veillance at least once a month without slowly across to the other side of the camp finishing studies in one year. Unfortunately, knowing about it—by other prisoners, most- street and looked at him. He also looked at just after I passed the examinations for the ly Germans. He gave me the name of my me and with his head signaled ‘‘no.’’ I under- first doctoral semester, I was dismissed from ‘‘guardian angel,’’ warning me not to give stood: he did not betray anyone. Someone the Civilian Guard of the American army in away that I know anything about it. Such a denounced him and the SS searched his the summer of 1947 (Reduction In Force). Be- prisoner-spy would try to make friends, pockets when leaving work and found some cause this was equivalent to depriving me of would bring up certain questions during a names. He was handed over to the penal com- financial resources for me and my entire conversation, such as who will win the war, pany of the horrible murderer ‘‘Vogel.’’ My family (wife and daughter), I had to resign who is losing the war, why and whom do I friends and I had to put in a lot of effort, and from further studies. Luckily, before the dis- wish victory, what was my attitude towards live through much fear, to save ‘‘my’’ Bel- missal, and with a greater cooperation of a the communists, and of course the whole gian as well as another of my friends from special co-op committee, I was able to work time he would agree with my opinions. college years, Stanislaw Dziadus. Dziadus, out the statutes, bookkeeping, and plant the Afterwards the entire content of that con- who was sent from Gross Rosen to the seed of trade courses in very many guard versation would be reported where he was so subcamp in Biedrusk near Poznan, escaped companies, so that the Civilian Guard of the told. The information from this Belgian pro- from there and was caught by the Gestapo American Army could rightly be proud of tected me from painful consequences and in- and returned to camp Gross Rosen. We were beautiful attainments in education, culture, creased my vigilance and caution in pro- able to arrange that he would not be killed, profession, charity and finances—and always nouncements to strangers. Shortly after the only sent to the penal block. Since the camp in the spirit of the true independence of Po- first warnings, ‘‘my’’ Belgian told me that he in Gross Rosen was overloaded with pris- land. has access to a list of individuals of Polish oners, they were sending transports to other

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.029 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H165 camps, located further west. For a bit more those who survived the German and Soviet Jewish and Polish Holocaust, presenting it cake, bacon and other items received from concentration camps. We set out there to- as it really had happened. Schools in Toledo, colleagues, we were able to include our gether with my friend Albert Ziegler, who is Maumee and Sylvania, Ohio, invited my Jew- friend the Belgian and Stas Dziadus (later, a of Jewish heritage. Because Al did not speak ish friend along with me, a Christian, to doctor and peoples’ activist in Poland) on Polish, I was his interpreter. The Poles speak on and explain those topics. Often, the list of participants of the transport and present at the meeting greeted Ziegler very they were videotaped. I must state that my give them provisions for the trip. cordially. There weren’t even the slightest Jewish friend was very objective and re- 12. DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE POLISH HOLOCAUST missteps or shortcomings. They even asked ported the matters entirely in agreement For almost fifty years after the attack of him to light a candle during Holy Mass, in with the truth. Albert Ziegler recorded very many inter- Germany and the Soviets on Poland and memory of the Jews who perished in the Hol- views with both Jews and Christians, prob- after the experiences in the concentration ocaust. More or less around this time, I had a short ably hundreds of hours. Unfortunately, we camps, I was unable to withstand the psy- interview by the editor (or perhaps owner) of were not always able to lecture together. chological stress involved in discussing or The Monroe Evening News, which later ap- Some schools only allotted 45 minutes for a even listening to conversations on the sub- peared in their published book, In the Rock- presentation. The best situation was on ject of the terrible effects of the war, and ets’ Red Glare; Recollections of Monroe those occasions when we had 2–3 hours for above all the results of Gestapo rule. I had a County Veterans. both of us. nervous breakdown and burst out in bitter In 1996 we again decided to travel to On January 30, 1998, I was interviewed for weeping on the stand while testifying in the Doylestown for the solemn observance, and the Steven Spielberg Survivors of the Shoah federal case in Chicago regarding the depor- Al was even prepared with special video Visual History Foundation, with a specially tation of a former SS-man from Gross Rosen, equipment for this occasion. However, in the hired videographer. The interview itself was Reinhold Kulle, which took place in the interim there was an intensification of anti- performed by Albert Ziegler, one of the spe- years 1983–1984. Polish attacks in the press and TV, after the cially trained Spielberg interviewers in the But I was also aware of the fact that the so-called ‘‘documentary’’ film PBS/Frontline region. recording of experiences of former prisoners Shtetl. Al Ziegler filmed the entire cere- of German and Soviet concentration camps 13. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE mony. They greeted him very politely, but Mr. Marian Wojciechowski was born April is a necessity to preserve historical truth— coldly. There was no sign of the previous and I slowly began to control myself, and to 25, 1914 in Polaniec, formerly Sandomierz outpouring of courtesy and friendship from district, currently Staszow district, speak on those subjects. And so, on Sep- the entire hall. It was replaced by a polite tember 1, 1989 on the fiftieth anniversary of Swietokrzyskie province in Poland. He fin- reserve, although no one told him even one ished basic school in Polaniec, and a co-edu- the attack of Germany and the Soviets on unpleasant word. I know that Al Ziegler felt Poland and the outbreak of WWII, two tele- cational high school in Busko Zdroj. A grad- this very sharply, but he was probably not uate of the Szkola Glowna Handlowa in War- vision stations (Channel 11 and Channel 13) surprised at this reaction, which resulted in Toledo, Ohio, and also the locally well- saw (SGH—Warsaw School of Economics), from the current attacks on Poles. Cooperatives Faculty (master’s examination known and widely-read daily newspaper, The After the nationwide broadcast of the PBS/ passed in 1937), and Business Education Fac- Blade, came to me with a request for an Frontline film Shtetl, my daughter called interview. ulty in 1940. the local PBS TV station with a request that Former auditor of the Agricultural-Com- The matter of the Polish Holocaust and my they show the documentary film Zegota. Al- wartime experiences was widely commented merce Division (Dzial Rolniczo Handlowy) of though they received a copy of the video the Union of Agricultural and Economic Co- on the two TV stations and written up in an from the film director, they still decided not interesting, lengthy article of the major operatives in Warsaw (Zwiazek Spoldzielm to broadcast it. So, on several occasions we Rolniczych i Zarobkowo-Gospodarczych w local press. The local Polish American Con- invited groups of people to our home to show gress (of which I was vice-president) ar- Warszawie). them this real, other side of the problem. Former platoon leader in the 21st Regi- ranged a solemn observance of the 50th anni- Naturally, we also invited over our Jewish versary of the attack on Poland in the local ment of the Nadwislanski Lancers (21-szy friends. Pulk Ulanow Nadwislanskich) in the theater located in the old Polish neighbor- After all, the majority of the actors of this hood, where Rev. Chaplain George Wolynska Cavalry Brigade in September documentary film Zegota are real witnesses 1939. Rinkowski presented his war history and ex- of the drama. They are the participants and periences, and I presented my own experi- Former active member of the people’s un- authors of this history, which unfortunately derground movement, Grupa ‘‘Raclawice’’— ences—my Polish Holocaust. In September of a majority of Jews does not wish to view and 1989, an instructor (Applied Economics) in AK (Armia Krajowa—People’s Home Army). doesn’t even want to hear about it. The kind Former prisoner of the Gestapo in Radom, the high school in Maumee, Ohio, also asked of help that the Jews received during WWII and of the concentration camps Auschwitz, me to lecture on the subject of differences in Poland was not found in any other coun- Gross Rosen and Leitmeritz—from April 1942 between capitalism and communism. try under German control. And this is pre- to May 1945. In October 1989, Mr. Dale Schroeder of cisely demonstrated in the film Zegota. Former officer of the Polish Civilian Guard Monroe, Michigan invited me to speak about On September 17, 1997 I was invited by my in the American Army under the name ‘‘Jan my experiences during the war to the mem- friend Mr. Dale Schroeder to talk to the Wojmar.’’ bers at a dinner meeting of the local Kiwanis members of the local Kiwanis Club about the Former member of the board Club. My lecture also appeared in the local attack of the Soviets on Poland on Sep- ‘‘Zjednoczenie’’ and liaison officer for the gazette, The Monroe Evening News. tember 17, 1939. Poles in the American-occupied zone in Ger- In December 1989, Congresswoman Marcy In 1997 and 1998, I had two presentations for many to the International Refugee Organiza- Kaptur, the U.S. Representative from Toledo students of American history at the Univer- tion (IRO) in Bad Kissingen. and herself of Polish heritage, a very well- sity of Toledo, Ohio (at the invitation of Former bookkeeper, and later owner and known, loved and respected person, orga- teacher Carol Holeman). After my lectures, publisher of the Polish weekly newspaper nized for middle-school students a memorial the students admitted to me privately that Ameryka Echo in Toledo, Ohio (1952–1961). observance of the Holocaust at the Univer- they had not known anything about the Pol- One of the former administrators of the sity of Toledo Urban Affairs Center, with the ish part of the Holocaust. City of Toledo, Ohio (1962–1980) in the Relo- participation of ethnic groups. I was the lec- In November 1997, I attended a public cation, Housing, Rehabilitation and Commu- turer from the Polish group. meeting at the Erie United Methodist nity Organization. The terminal illness and death of my late Church in Erie, Michigan. Two students from Former administrator of the Neighborhood wife, Wladyslawa (who, with her parents and the church had just returned from mission Housing Services in Toledo, Ohio in the two brothers had already been arrested on vacations spent in Poland, and were relating years 1980–1994 (low percentage loans for re- January 18, 1940, and whose brother was mur- their impressions in a most flattering way pair of homes, also for the purchase of used dered in a mass execution at Palmiry, and about Poland. Following their presentation, homes and their reconstruction). her father at Auschwitz) interrupted my I spoke on the subject of the Polish Holo- Founder of the Kolo Polskich Imigrantow thoughts about the Polish Holocaust. caust. (Circle of Polish Immigrants) in Toledo, Only towards the beginning of 1995 did I ac- In April 1998, the minister of the same Ohio. cept an invitation from the high school in church invited me to their Sunday service to Co-founder of the Skarb Narodowa (Na- Oak Harbor, Ohio (from teachers Mr. & Mrs. speak at length on the subject of the Holo- tional Treasury) in Toledo, Ohio. S. Kirian) for a chat about my experiences in caust (during which the Germans murdered 6 Former member of the Rada Narodowa R. the concentration camps (it was also re- million Polish citizens: 3 million Christian P. (National Council of the Republic of Po- corded on videotape). The children listened Poles and 3 million Jewish Poles). The lec- land) in exile (awarded the Gold Cross of with great interest. ture was received very favorably, and the Merit). If I remember correctly, on October 15, 1995 attendees of that meeting recalled it to me Former ten-year commander of Post 74 there was a solemn Mass (on the occasion of on many occasions. PAVA (Polish Army Veterans of America; the annual meeting) at the American Czesto- In 1997 and 1998, my friend Al Ziegler and I SWAP—Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii chowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, in the took part in a whole series of interviews and Polskiej) in Toledo, Ohio; Honorary Post intention of those who were deceased and occasional discussions on the topic of the Commander.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 06:04 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.031 H25PT1 H166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 For many years, vice-president and for two and still today has refused to designate the that simple vow—the dead of Cambodia, Bos- years, president of the Polish American Con- murders in Darfur as an official genocide. nia, Rwanda and now Darfur, have joined the gress in Toledo, Ohio (reorganized the local Today we say ‘‘never again’’ to both the in- Jews of Europe. I hope that the 60th anniver- Congress by bringing in the younger genera- tolerance that created Auschwitz and the in- tion of Americans of Polish heritage, and sary of the liberation of Auschwitz will act as proposing a plan of projects for the coming transigence that stopped the world from acting a catalyst for a re-dedication of humanity to years). sooner. At the same time, we must turn our ending the crime of genocide. Member of many other organizations: attention to the neglected crises of our day Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in Polish National Alliance (Zwiazek like the genocide in Darfur where more than strong and heartfelt support of H. Res. 39. Narodowy Polski). 2.2 million people have already been victim- This resolution underlies the moral fabric of Polish Legion of American Veterans—Post ized and displaced by a brutal campaign of our global society: We must never ever forget 207, Las Vegas, Nevada. ethnic cleansing. and we must be ever vigilant to prevent the Toledo Polish Cultural Association The only way to fight indifference is to make hatred that led to the creation of concentration Toledo Poznan Alliance (Sister Cities International) a difference. One example is a project under- camps like Auschwitz. The American Center of Polish Culture taken by the students of Miliken Community The resolution rightly urges that we rededi- Urban Renewal Housing Authority High School in Los Angeles. These students cate ourselves to the fight against racism, in- American Legion—Ohio, Post 545 in Toledo raised more than $10,000 this year to donate tolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination International Institute of Greater Toledo, to the International Medical Corps to build and anti-Semitism. Clearly, such a call to arms Inc. water wells for displaced refugees in Chad is needed now more than ever. For example, Kosciuszko Foundation and Sudan. I am very proud of them for reach- the State Department’s Report on Global Anti- Public Employee Retirees, Inc. ing out to help improve the lives of some of Semitism states, ‘‘anti-Semitism in Europe in- Mr. WEINER. Madam Speaker, today we the world’s most vulnerable people. Let us all creased significantly in recent years.’’ Geno- commemorate the 60th anniversary of the lib- learn from their example and the lessons of cide in Rwanda, the ethnic massacres in Bos- eration of Auschwitz. It is a powerful and im- history so we do not need to wait for 60 years nia and the mass killings of children in Russia portant reminder of terror, genocide, and the to mark a genocide we might prevent or stop. reminds us that not every corner of the world Holocaust. More than 1.5 million prisoners— Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today or country is committed to respecting the dig- most of them Jews—perished in gas cham- in support of H. Res. 39, to recognize and nity of its citizens. As we solemnly remember bers or died of starvation and disease at honor the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the sacrifice of 12 million people who were Auschwitz. Auschwitz, and to honor the 13 million who persecuted and died because of their ethnicity, Today it is important to remember those perished in the Nazi concentration camps. political or religious beliefs, we must fight anti- crimes against humanity. We must recall those It is important not only that we continue to Semitism and other forms of discrimination whose lives were lost to the savagery of fas- study the terrible lessons of the Holocaust, but with renewed vigor. We will be judged poorly cism, racism, and bigotry. We must never for- that we also express our gratitude to the Allied by history itself if we do not. get them. troops whose service and sacrifice helped lib- Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise to join my We must also remember the heroes of that erate those trapped in these factories of colleagues in support of H. Con. Res. 16, war who helped save lives by risking their death. which commemorates the 60th Anniversary of own. The Holocaust represented the systematic the liberation of Auschwitz. On this 60th anniversary, we reflect back, persecution and murder of approximately 6 Yesterday, I went to New York to attend the but we also look ahead. We mark this date million Jews by the Nazi regime and its col- United Nations first commemoration of the lib- with a pledge to the living. laborators. Dubbed the ‘‘final solution’’ by the eration of Auschwitz. It was an incredible We must keep the stories of the survivors— Nazi bureaucrats who ran it, the attempted ex- day—the first of its kind. It gave me hope that our siblings, parents, and grandparents—alive. termination of European Jewry was carried out we, as a world, may be learning lessons so We must remain steadfast in our dedication to in camps across occupied Europe. The center desperately needed. eliminating anti-Semitism in every country and of this hell was Auschwitz. Among other things, yesterday’s General here at home. We must ensure that all Jews A complex of camps, Auschwitz was built 37 Assembly session was a reminder that we, as have a secure homeland in the State of Israel miles west of Krakow, near the prewar Ger- a country and a world community, must not to seek refuge. man-Polish border, to extract the labor of its forget the battles we have waged in the name And we must act to stop genocide—in prisoners before they were exterminated in of humanity. This anniversary provides us with Sudan or anywhere else. The murder of inno- gas chambers that ran around-the-clock. It is an opportunity to reflect on the horrors that oc- cent people must never happen again. estimated that at least 1.3 million people were curred at Auschwitz, and to commemorate the Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, this week deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and lives of those it took. But it is more than that. marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of 1945; of these, at least 1.1 million were mur- That, I suppose, is something we all know. the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Around dered there. Hearing the stories of Auschwitz is difficult. the world we join together to mourn the mil- Sixty years ago, on January 27, 1945, the It is tempting to want to avoid these horrific lions of Jews and others who perished in its Soviet army liberated Auschwitz and freed memories—to bury the Holocaust deep, so gruesome gates. We reaffirm our collective re- more than 7,000 people, most of whom were that it will not haunt us. But understanding the sponsibility to wipe out anti-Semitism and ha- ill and dying. immeasurable wrongs the Jewish people have tred and remember the silence that let the Thirteen years ago, I was able to see this endured—and the scale on which they oc- Holocaust go unnoticed for so long. camp firsthand when I visited Poland. Dec- curred—is vital to understanding our world Auschwitz was only one of many extermi- ades after the liberation, the thought of all the today. It is also vital to understanding the de- nation camps the Nazi’s used, but it was the men, women and children murdered there was pravity of which human beings, when hard- largest and the place where the gas chambers and still is chilling and difficult to endure. ened to others’ suffering, are capable. It is were first refined for mass murder. The sear- The United Nations held a special session only through the process of acknowledging ing image of the many tracks leading straight yesterday to commemorate the Holocaust and and discussing these horrific events that we to its crematoria is a tragic emblem of its hor- the liberation of the camps. The ceremony can prevent similar iniquity in the future. rors. It is also a painful reminder of the United featured speakers Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust Anniversaries, as I have said, give rise to States government’s decision not to bomb survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dep- reflection. But understanding our past and re- those tracks when it had the chance and its uty Defense Secretary Paul D. Wollowitz and specting each other’s differences have never refusal to admit Jewish refugees who later ar- the foreign ministers of Israel, Germany, and been more vital that they are today. Distrust, rived at the camp’s railroad platforms. France. misunderstanding, and hate have found fertile Yesterday, for the first time in its history, the Even as we struggle to come to terms with ground in many parts of the world. We see it United Nations held a special session to com- events that happened more than half a cen- in the Sudan, for example. We must meet this memorate the Holocaust and the Auschwitz tury ago, we must recognize that there are challenge by demanding that all world leaders liberation. While this is appropriate, we should other genocides occurring in the world. In the anticipate, understand, and address the issues not forget that this international organization, wake of the conflagration that befell the Jews that emerge from poverty, injustice, militarism, set up to stop atrocities such as the ones in during the Nazi era, the world pledged that and racism. A good speech can move its audi- the Second World War, has spent so much of ‘‘Never Again’’ would we stand by as others ence, but speech without action does nothing its effort criticizing Israel, the nation that were hunted and murdered just because they for those who most need the words to mean emerged from the remnants of the Holocaust, existed. Sadly, we have not yet lived up to something.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.033 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H167 As U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan re- The liberation of Auschwitz was a pivotal hearts and in their souls they feel the pain and minded us yesterday, in the 60 years since moment in ending the Holocaust, during which suffering of those who raised them. In them, the liberation of Auschwitz, the world has more than 12 million innocent civilians were too, the past is present. failed more than once to prevent genocide. As murdered, including 6 million Jews. These Unfortunately, the past is also present in the we look around the world today, we must people were singled out not because of any rising anti-Semitism we see today. According open our eyes to the many horrific examples wrongdoing, but rather because of their reli- to a new report released by the State Depart- of inhumanity that we are allowing to continue. gion, beliefs, birthplace, or personal character- ment, anti-Semitism has ‘‘increased signifi- The Secretary General recounted the history istics. cantly’’ in Europe, is a serious problem in the and pointed out that like Israel, the founding of Sixty years after the end of this attempt to Middle East, and is appearing in countries with the United Nations in a real sense was a di- exterminate an entire religion, anti-Semitism, no historic Jewish community. From verbal rect response to the Holocaust. racism, and xenophobia continue to plague and physical attacks to vandalism, this new The international community must deal hon- humanity. Despite the lessons of history, the surge of hate must be confronted, con- estly with the Holocaust and with the atrocities world has witnessed genocide in Armenia, demned, and stopped. that are occurring at this very moment. We Cambodia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and even re- We must also say no to the naysayers who must acknowledge its roots, and anti-Semitism cently in Sudan, among other places. Further- deny the horrors of the Holocaust. It is only by persist in too many places around the globe. more, we continue to hear anti-Semitic senti- remembering the past that we can change the World leaders must shake themselves out of ments coming out of Europe, the Middle East, future. indifference and rise above political consider- and North Africa, and even here at home in Before I close, I must also note that we are ations. They must use their position to combat America. Now more than ever, we all must marking another significant event. Yesterday, the intolerance that has been allowed to fester work to understand those of different cultures, for the first time in its history, the United Na- for too long. Without an honest assessment races, and religions. Mutual respect for our dif- tions’ General Assembly held a special com- and vigilant commitment, we fail to learn the ferences will lead to the end of hostilities, and memorative session on the anniversary of the lessons of Auschwitz and prevent the recur- only then will the opportunity for world peace liberation of the camps. In the past, certain rence of these crimes against humanity. exist. groups within the U.N. have blocked com- I urge my colleagues to do more than vote One of our colleagues, the gentleman from memoration of the Holocaust. I hope that this for this resolution today. We must work within California, Mr. LANTOS, survived the Holocaust is a turning point for the U.N. I hope that this our communities and across borders to foster and knows firsthand humankind’s potential for commemoration is only the beginning. I hope respect for all people and deepen under- cruelty. However, he has dedicated his entire that we see more United Nations actions, like standing of other cultures. We must reach out life to combating the forces that permit such this one, taking a strong stand against anti- to the organizations and community groups atrocities, thereby demonstrating humankind’s Semitism throughout the world. that teach values such as tolerance and diver- potential for compassion. His tireless efforts to Today is a day for quiet remembrance and sity to our young people. We must challenge fight racism, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all of strong action. We pause to commemorate all the seeds of hate before they take root, even its forms remind us of our responsibility to pro- those who were killed in the Nazi genocide when it means confronting our friends. Failing tect those in need, both in the U.S. and and in other acts of genocide around the to take these steps is more than a moral fail- throughout the world. globe. We honor those who survive. We re- ing on our part. It is a failure to make good on On this important anniversary, I solemnly re- member the past. We will act to create a fu- the promise we made at Auschwitz six dec- member and honor all of those who lost their ture without genocide, without anti-Semitism, ades ago. lives in the Holocaust, thank those that worked and without hate. Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, today we for their freedom, and pledge to do all in my Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of power to prevent such evil from ever occurring I rise today to commemorate the 60th anniver- the Auschwitz death camp, a component of again. sary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death the murderous network used by the Nazis in Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise in camp by Allied Forces, this week in 1945. Sol- World War II. Throughout their network of evil, strong support of this resolution and would like diers of the Soviet Union found only a few the Nazis slew the blameless and pure, men to commend my colleague and the Ranking thousand prisoners remaining, most of them and women and children, with vapors of poi- Member on our committee for his work on this too sick to leave, the rest taken away on a son and burned them with fire. For many of the survivors, the Holocaust did resolution. Mr. LANTOS, I realize that as the forced death march. It is said that when sol- not end with liberation. Those who survived only Holocaust survivor to ever serve in Con- diers and prisoners first stared at each other faced the enormous challenge of rebuilding gress, these events, which for many of us are across the barbed wire, some laughed, some their lives. Many succeeded, others did not, a part of history, are personal for you. We cried, and others just gazed at each other in but all would remember the horror of the honor you for your story and thank you for disbelief. crimes that they were forced to witness. Sur- your leadership. Madam Speaker, it has been 60 years since vivors who suffered this hell are a living testa- This week we, along with countries around that day, and we are still in disbelief. Despite ment to the depths of evil to which men can the globe, mark the 60th Anniversary of the all that we know of the Holocaust from books fall. We must never again allow such a hei- liberation of Auschwitz. and movies, academic studies and personal nous crime of man to be committed against Sixty years ago this week, Soviet soldiers memories, we still wonder why, why Auschwitz his fellow man. arrived at a camp only recently evacuated by could have happened. Why was the world si- I want to take this opportunity to thank the the Nazis and liberated nearly 7,000 people. lent in the face of such evil? Why did fellow countless people who have devoted their lives They found people on the edge of death who human beings perpetuate such a totality of de- to ensuring that the history of the death camps had witnessed horrors beyond belief and lost struction on innocent men, women, and chil- has not been forgotten by following genera- their families and their homes. It is almost in- dren? Perhaps there are no definitive an- tions. comprehensible to understand what took place swers. It is rather for us to learn from these Today marks the Jewish holiday of at Auschwitz, the largest of the concentration questions how not to ever let it happen again. Tu’Beshvat. Tu’Beshvat is considered the New camps. Over a million Jews, as well as at The Allied forces who liberated not just Year for nature in the Jewish calendar and least 70,000 Poles, 21,000 Roma, and 15,000 Auschwitz but concentration camps throughout marks the first signs of spring in Israel. On this Soviet POWs were killed there. Europe, all shared in the experience of enter- day of spring and hope, let us renew our com- Sixty years ago seems like a lifetime away. ing a different world, a world where death was mitment to hope in man and rededicate our- Generations of children have been born since the future and life the past. It was their com- selves to those words, ‘‘never again.’’ then. Generations have been raised thinking passion towards the Nazi’s victims that en- Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, today I that the Holocaust and events like it are from abled the beginning of the survivor’s long jour- join my colleagues to commemorate the 60th a distant past. ney back to civilization, back to justice, and anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. On But these events are not distant and are not back to humanity. To them we owe a great January 27, 1945, Soviet troops entered the in the past. Today, those who survived the debt of gratitude. Nazi concentration camp and freed the pris- camps live to tell us their story and the stories Out of every historical wrong there comes oners held there. From the survivors, we have of their families and their lives before the Hol- some right, and the Holocaust is no exception. heard heartbreaking tales of cruelty and op- ocaust. And their children and grandchildren We have been taught in the last 60 years a pression and now consider Auschwitz a sym- are here with us, too. They are living testi- great deal about humanitarianism, human dig- bol of the brutality of the Nazi regime—a place mony to the strength, courage, and optimism nity, the need for hope, and the will to survive. whose horrors test the bounds of imagination. of their parents and grandparents. But in their Holocaust survivors have reminded us not

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.036 H25PT1 H168 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 only about what we’ve lost but also about how of anti-Semitic acts, it is imperative that we faces of our humanity. Apart from the Holo- important it is to remember. The State of educate and remind the new and future gen- caust, the genocides in Turkey, Cambodia, Israel was formed in the wake of this tragedy, erations about the atrocities committed at Tibet, and Bosnia, the killing of the Tutsi in and so many other organizations dedicated to Auschwitz and other camps against an inno- Rwanda, the slaying of thousands in Sudan, the pursuit of freedom, equality and tolerance cent people. and the deaths of millions during the Irish have since been founded. Only a concerted, multi-faceted approach to Famine, are all instances of oppression and Madam Speaker, today is a time for reflec- combating this virulent hatred will effectively prejudice succeeding throughout our history. tion, but it is not enough today to simply re- silence it. Anti-Semitism, intolerance, and big- The complacency and inaction of governments member. The Holocaust has affirmed in us a otry must be answered and fought with all the around the world, standing silently by while commitment to prevent the use of genocide as means at our disposal, so that the horrors of discrimination grows, is inexcusable. a tool of war, a tool that unfortunately has Auschwitz are never again repeated. Today must be used as a day of education, been used many times since Auschwitz was We must continue to tell the story, for we since without education, there can be no real liberated 60 years ago. It appears that bar- owe something to those who perished at the change. Teachers throughout the world must barity, wanton murder, and senseless annihila- hands of the Nazis. As Elie Wiesel has have the support of their governments to tion know no statute of limitations, and we warned: ‘‘. . . anyone who does not remem- teach their students the lessons of the Holo- would be betraying the memories of the mil- ber betrays them again.’’ caust and of all discrimination. Our grand- lions who died if we continued to justify and I urge my colleagues to render their over- children, great-grandchildren, and generations excuse our disengagement from that reality. whelming support to this resolution and to the to come must be made to understand that ra- We must continue to fight hatred and intoler- noble cause of eradicating prejudice and ha- cial, ethnic, and religious intolerance and prej- ance wherever it exists, for human freedom tred throughout the world. udice can lead to the genocide carried out in depends on the presence of justice, the justice Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today camps such as Auschwitz, and these intoler- that was denied to so many during the dark in strong support of H. Res. 39 offered by the ances will never have a place in our world days of World War II. To ignore that lesson is gentleman from California, commending coun- again. unforgivable. tries and organizations for marking the 60th Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with Today in Darfur, in the Sudan, genocide is anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and my colleagues in supporting this resolution, taking place. Though not yet on the scale of urging a strengthening of the fight against rac- and thank my colleague, Mr. LANTOS, for his the Nazi Holocaust, this conflict has engulfed ism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimina- unwavering leadership on this issue. millions of people and cost hundreds of thou- tion, and anti-Semitism. I thank my colleague, Ms. MCCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 39, I rise today sands of lives. Innocent people are today Mr. LANTOS, for bringing this important resolu- to support this resolution marking the 60th an- being murdered, starved, and driven from their tion to the floor today. niversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and homes simply because of the color of their The lessons of January 27, 1945 are forever exposing the world to this dark chapter in skin. Though the United States has acknowl- with us. That day and the many days of libera- tion afterwards showed us of the fight which human history. edged that this is genocide, we have failed to An estimated 6 million Jewish men, women exists to make sure that the world strengthens act. Shame on us for failing to absorb the les- and children, more than 60 percent of the pre- its efforts to fight against any form of discrimi- sons of the Holocaust. How can this Congress Second World War Jewish population of Eu- nation. commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz rope, were murdered by the Nazis at Ausch- There is great danger in being inactive while turning a blind eye to the terrible crimes witz and other death camps during World War about the threat of anti-Semitism. It was anti- being committed in Darfur? How dare we II. The Holocaust and the human suffering Semitism that was responsible for the horrors honor the memory of those who died with only perpetrated by the Nazi regime against the of the Holocaust, for the death of over 6 mil- our words and not our deeds. Jews of Europe deserves to be commemo- lion Jews, and for the slaughter of over 1.1 Madam Speaker, I cannot simply com- rated with prayer, reflection and the solemn million people at Auschwitz. memorate one terrible event without insisting words of this resolution. that we must prevent others like it. History will Sadly, even though we have reached the On this day, as we remember the victims of long record the sins of those who failed to act 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Auschwitz and the genocide which ravaged to stop the Holocaust. Shame on us for allow- anti-Semitism in Europe has been on the rise. Europe during World War II, genocide is not a ing history to record that failure yet again. Once again, we witness evil propaganda, relic of history, but a reality in today’s world. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I physical attacks against Jews, the burning of The human race has not conquered the tyr- rise in strong support of this important resolu- Jewish sites and the desecration of syna- anny of men willing to commit mass murder— tion commemorating the 60th anniversary of gogues. We must not stand aside and ignore genocide—against other human beings. At this the liberation of Auschwitz and call on my col- this grave escalation of anti-Semitic violence moment in the Darfur region of Sudan our own leagues to join me in honoring the memory of and hatred. Secretary of State has called the systematic the Holocaust victims and to pay tribute to the We also saw the shadow of this anti-Semi- murder and rape of tens of thousands—along Allied soldiers who fought and sacrificed for tism yesterday at the special session of the with the forced dislocation of some 1.8 million the cause of freedom. United Nations’ General Assembly. Nobel lau- people—a modern day ‘‘genocide.’’ In fact, it This resolution draws from the lessons of reate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Dep- is because I am traveling back from the Sudan history by calling for the strengthening of the uty Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and and eastern Chad having visited directly with fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, preju- foreign ministers from Israel and a number of the victims of the ethnic cleansing in Darfur dice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism. European countries spoke to many empty that I am not present to vote in support of H. I would like to commend the gentleman from seats in the General Assembly chamber while Res. 39. Illinois, Mr. HYDE, and the gentleman from they delivered powerful and often moving ad- Today, as we remember the liberation of California, Mr. LANTOS, for bringing this meas- dresses about intolerance and genocide. Of Auschwitz, the liberation of human beings ure to the Floor at this time. the 191 members of the General Assembly, forced to suffer unimaginable horrors, let us When we talk of the Holocaust, we speak of only 138 agreed with the proposal by the U.S. commit this House as well as the will and a grim and unprecedented period in human to hold the special day of commemoration. We power of our great Nation, to the cause of history—a unique atrocity, distinct from any must wonder why, after all these years, there eradicating genocide and holding the perpetra- other. The mass murders that were inflicted are over 50 countries which did not agree to tors of such grotesque crimes against human- upon the Jewish people and scores of other this most basic proposal to recognize a day ity accountable. victims must never be forgotten. which will forever be etched in our minds. I commend my friend Mr. LANTOS for his Similarly, we must remember the compas- Any government whose people exhibit any leadership on this resolution and I look for- sion of the many brave men and women who act of anti-Semitism must provide security and ward to working closely with him and Chair- risked their lives to rescue and shelter Jewish safety to their Jewish communities, must pros- man HYDE to end the tyranny of genocide in refugees fleeing the Nazi reign of terror. The ecute and punish perpetrators of anti-Semitic the world today. incidents of countless non-Jews who risked violence, and must cultivate a climate in which Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise their lives to protect people of another faith all forms of anti-Semitism and discrimination to honor the memory of the approximately one were as real as the Nazi death camps them- are rejected. million European Jews who were murdered selves. Mass violence, the abuse of fundamental between 1940 and 1945 by the Nazis at the As Europe and the Middle East experience human rights, and the mistreatment of human concentration camp of Auschwitz, the site of a dramatic rise in the frequency and intensity beings as a result of discrimination are ugly the single largest mass murder in history.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.040 H25PT1 January 25, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H169 The camp was originally built to confine and In 1942, the Germans drew up plans for the The acts performed at Auschwitz 60 years control Polish dissidents that the Nazis so-called ‘‘Final Solution,’’ which contemplated ago represent the darkest chapter of human deemed were a threat to the occupation. Pol- the murder of every Jew under their control. history. I am often struck by the stark contrast ish Jews were held elsewhere, typically in Auschwitz, which had already proved itself to the concentration camps provide juxtaposed ghettos. At Auschwitz, the Polish prisoners be effective at killing large numbers of people, with the enlightenment, scientific advancement were treated atrociously and in 20 months, was perfectly situated to carry out the deadly and progress made by mankind in the 20th more than 10,000 died. In January 1942, a plan. It was located on major railroad lines century. They serve as a chilling reminder of Nazi plan for the mass murder of Jews was and it was easy to move large numbers of the evil man is capable of, especially toward developed. What was called the ‘‘Final Solu- people there. Auschwitz became a crucial part those perceived to be different or apart. tion’’ was the Nazi policy to murder European of the Germans’ effort to eradicate an entire Kosovo, Rwanda and the Sudan unfortu- Jews. In the spring of 1942, Auschwitz took on people. nately highlight the fact that genocide is an a more important role in the Nazis’ ‘‘Final So- The majority of the Jewish men, women and issue that still troubles our world. It is there- lution.’’ The horrifying ability of Nazis to kill children deported to Auschwitz were sent to fore all the more important to remember thousands per hour took time to achieve and their deaths in the Birkenau gas chambers im- Auschwitz and reaffirm our global commitment involved such cruel methods as gassing pris- mediately after arrival. As Germany conquered to forever end such wicked practices. oners using carbon monoxide or the lethal new territory, the SS gathered and sent the I was very pleased to hear on Monday, Jan- pesticide Zyklon B. Conservative and reliable Jewish populations to Auschwitz and other uary 24, 2005, that the United Nations Gen- estimates show that the Nazis gassed at least death camps. Meanwhile, other atrocities were eral Assembly convened in a special session 1.1 million humans at Auschwitz, about 90 also being committed at Auschwitz. In May to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation percent Jews. However, the torture and 1943 Dr. Josef Mengele, an SS physician, and of the death camps. This was the first time the killings were not just limited to the Jews as the his colleagues began conducting experiments UN General Assembly has ever met to com- Nazis targeted other groups they saw as infe- on thousands of human guinea pigs. memorate the Holocaust, and the first time By January 1945 the SS knew that the Red rior such as Gypsies, the handicapped, Poles, that the General Assembly convened a special Army was approaching Auschwitz. In an effort Russians, Communists, Socialists, Jehovah’s session at Israel’s request. to eliminate evidence of the crimes they had Witnesses, and homosexuals. Madam Speaker, in closing I would like to As the end of World War II approached, the committed, the SS blew up the gas chambers, commend the sponsors and leadership for Nazis marched Auschwitz prisoners west into crematoria, and other buildings, and burned bringing this important resolution to the floor Germany in the winter cold. During this march, documents. On January 18 and 19, 1945, and I urge an ‘‘aye’’ vote. many prisoners lost their lives. A remaining more than 60,000 Auschwitz inmates deemed Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, as we vote few thousand prisoners deemed too sick to capable of walking were forced by the SS to today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the travel were left at Auschwitz to be killed later march through freezing weather into German- liberation of Auschwitz, it is worth noting that by the Schuzstaffel (SS). However, the SS left occupied territory. Lacking proper food, cloth- the number of Holocaust survivors who bore them alive in the disorder that resulted when ing and medical attention, thousands died dur- witness to the atrocities at the German camps the Nazis abandoned the concentration camp ing the death march. Many were shot. Those on January 17 and 18, 1945. Soviet forces who made it to the rail stations were put in is dwindling. One, respected lawyer, Samuel Pisar, wrote found the prisoners and liberated Auschwitz, open wagons and sent west to become slave the site of so much horror, on January 27, laborers. Some prisoners, many of them too an impressive op-ed piece several days ago in 1945. weak or ill to travel, were left behind. Those the Washington Post. It is hard to imagine wit- The merciless brutality inflicted on the Jews who remained behind in the camp were liber- nessing—let alone surviving—the horror. Mr. by the Nazis over the course of World War II ated by Red Army soldiers on January 27, Pisar movingly describes the last time he saw is unfathomable. It is still entirely unbelievable 1945. his mother and sister. that individuals contemplated in seriousness Perhaps the most eloquent survivor of Some, like my father, were more fortunate. the systematic destruction of over 6 million Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel, commemorated the A graduate of medical school in Germany, he men, women, and children. On this, the 60th 50th anniversary of the liberation of the camps was able to immigrate to New York in 1935. Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, as with these words, ‘‘In this place of darkness But he taught our family well: never to forget. we honor the lives lost, my heartfelt condo- and malediction we can but stand in awe and I also want to take this moment to celebrate lences go out to those who lost loved ones in remember its stateless, faceless and name- the life and achievement of the only survivor the Holocaust. They will never be forgotten. less victims. Close your eyes and look: end- who serves in Congress—our esteemed col- Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, 60 years less nocturnal processions are converging league from California, Mr. LANTOS, who ago, allied forces entered the scene of the here, and here it is always night. Here heaven brought this Resolution to the House floor greatest mass murder in history—the con- and earth are on fire. Close your eyes and lis- today. I thank him and ask unanimous consent centration camp known as Auschwitz. Ausch- ten. Listen to the silent screams of terrified that Samuel Pisar’s article be printed in the witz has become recognized around the world mothers, the prayers of anguished old men CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. as a symbol of genocide, terror and brutality. and women. Listen to the tears of children, [From the Washington Post, Jan. 23, 2005] The liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army Jewish children, a beautiful little girl among WILL WE ‘NEVER FORGET’? became a turning point in our understanding them, with golden hair, whose vulnerable ten- (By Samuel Pisar) of the world and of inhumanity. Auschwitz derness has never left me. Look and listen as Sixty years ago the Russians liberated showed us the face of evil incarnate and to they quietly walk towards dark flames so gi- Auschwitz, as the Americans approached Da- our horror, it was an ordinary face. gantic that the planet itself seemed in danger. chau. The Allied advance revealed to a Auschwitz did not start out as an experiment All these men and women and children came stunned world the horrors of the greatest ca- in death. Established by the Nazis in 1940, it from everywhere, a gathering of exiles drawn tastrophe ever to befall our civilization. To a was initially a camp for individuals deemed by death.’’ survivor of both death factories, where Hit- problematic by the Third Reich—Polish dis- From 1940 to 1945, the Nazis deported over ler’s gruesome reality eclipsed Dante’s imag- sidents and Soviet prisoners of war. Soon a million Jews, almost 150,000 Poles, 23,000 inary inferno, being alive and well so many years later feels unreal. after its creation, the Germans decided to use Roma, 15,000 Soviet POWs, and over 10,000 We the survivors are now disappearing one prisoners as slave laborers for their large in- prisoners of other nationalities to Auschwitz. by one. Soon history will speak of Auschwitz dustrial complex. The overwhelming majority of them died in the at best with the impersonal voice of re- Once Auschwitz became a work camp, the camp. searchers and novelists, at worst with the Germans found themselves faced with the Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join malevolence of demagogues and falsifiers. question of what to do with prisoners who me in recognizing the 60th anniversary of the This week the last of us, with a multitude of could not work. At first, they simply shot them. liberation of Auschwitz. May we forever re- heads of state and other dignitaries, are Eventually they began looking for ways to kill member those who perished there, and may gathering at that cursed site to remind the prisoners without unduly discomfitting the kill- their deaths remind us how our own humanity world that past can be prologue, that the ers—ultimately discovering the effectiveness mountains of human ashes dispersed there suffers when we serve as silent witnesses to are a warning to humanity of what may still of crystallized prussic acid, a pesticide mass genocide. lie ahead. produced under the trade name Zyklon B. Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speak- The genocides in Armenia, Cambodia, Bos- When the crystals dissolved in air, they cre- er, I rise today to join my colleagues in mark- nia, Kosovo and Rwanda and the recent mas- ated a lethal gas. The Germans first used this ing the 60th anniversary of the liberation of sacres of innocents in the United States, deadly gas to kill Soviet POWs. Auschwitz. Spain, Israel, Indonesia and so many other

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:09 Jan 26, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA7.044 H25PT1 H170 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 25, 2005 countries have demonstrated our inability to trying so long to hold on to a flicker of hope. The yeas and nays were ordered. learn from the blood-soaked past. Auschwitz, ‘‘God bless America,’’ I shouted uncontrol- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the symbol of absolute evil, is not only about lably. ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the In the autumn of their lives, the survivors that past, it is about the present and the fu- Chair’s prior announcement, further ture of our newly enflamed world, where a of Auschwitz feel a visceral need to transmit coupling of murderous ideologues and means what we have endured, to warn younger gen- proceedings on this motion will be of mass destruction can trigger new catas- erations that today’s intolerance, fanaticism postponed. trophes. and hatred can destroy their world as they f When the ghetto liquidation in Bialystok, once destroyed ours, that powerful alert sys- Poland, began, only three members of our tems must be built not only against the fury RECESS family were still alive: my mother, my little of nature—a tsunami or storm or eruption— The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- sister and I, age 13. Father had already been but above all against the folly of man. Be- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair executed by the Gestapo. Mother told me to cause we know from bitter experience that declares the House in recess until ap- put on long pants, hoping I would look more the human animal is capable of the worst, as like a man, capable of slave labor. ‘‘And you well as the best—of madness as of genius— proximately 6:30 p.m. today. and Frieda?’’ I asked. She didn’t answer. She and that the unthinkable remains possible. Accordingly (at 3 o’clock and 26 min- knew that their fate was sealed. As they In the wake of so many recent tragedies, a utes p.m.), the House stood in recess were chased, with the other women, the chil- wave of compassion and solidarity for the until approximately 6:30 p.m. dren, the old and the sick, toward the wait- victims, a fragile yearning for peace, democ- f ing cattle cars, I could not take my eyes off racy and liberty, seem to be spreading them. Little Freida held my mother with one around the plant. It is far too early to evalu- b 1833 hand, and with the other, her favorite doll. ate their potential. Mankind, divided and They looked at me too, before disappearing confused, still hesitates, vacillates like a AFTER RECESS from my life forever. sleepwalker on the edge of an abyss. But the The recess having expired, the House Their train went directly to Auschwitz- irrevocable has not yet happened; our was called to order by the Speaker pro Birkenau, mine to the extermination camp chances are still intact. Pray that we learn tempore (Mr. CULBERSON) at 6 o’clock of Majdanek. Months later, I also landed in how to seize them. and 33 minutes p.m. Auschwitz, still hoping naively to find their Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, trace. When the SS guards, with their dogs had I been present, I would have voted ‘‘aye’’ f and whips, unsealed my cattle car, many of my comrades were already dead from hunger, for rollcall vote 9, on H. Res. 39—Com- JOINT SESSION OF THE CON- thirst and lack of air. At the central ramp, mending countries and organizations for mark- GRESS—STATE OF THE UNION surrounded by electrically charged barbed ing the 60th anniversary of the liberation of MESSAGE wire, we were ordered to strip naked and file Auschwitz, and urging a strengthening of the Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer past the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele. The fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, preju- a privileged concurrent resolution (H. ‘‘angel of death’’ performed on us his ritual dice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism. ‘‘selection’’—those who were to die imme- Con. Res. 20) and ask for its immediate Over 6 million Jews were exterminated in consideration. diately to the right, those destined to live a Nazi camps, and millions of others including little longer and undergo other atrocious The SPEAKER pro tempore. The medical experiments, to the left. Poles, Soviet prisoners, Romanies, members Clerk will report the concurrent reso- In the background there was music. At the of the Resistance, and clergymen were among lution. main gate, with its sinister slogan ‘‘Work those killed, imprisoned or used as slave labor The Clerk read the concurrent reso- Brings Freedom,’’ sat, dressed in striped within the confines of these brutal camps. It is lution, as follows: prison rags like mine, one of the most re- estimated that between 1.2 and 1.6 million of H. CON. RES. 20 markable orchestras ever assembled. It was these victims perished at Auschwitz alone; made up of virtuosos from Warsaw and Paris, and—as a result—no single word in modern Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Kiev and Amsterdam, Rome and Budapest. Senate concurring), That the two Houses of To accompany these selections, hangings and language has a deeper symbolic meaning for Congress assemble in the Hall of the House shootings while the gas chambers and pure evil than the word Auschwitz. of Representatives on Wednesday, February crematoria belched smoke and fire, these Auschwitz symbolizes the dark side of 2, 2005, at 9 p.m., for the purpose of receiving gentle musicians were forced to play Bach, human nature, and serves as a lasting re- such communication as the President of the Schubert and Mozart, interspersed with minder that our civilized world must remain United States shall be pleased to make to marches to the glory of the Fuhrer. forever vigilant in the defense of human rights them. In the summer of 1944, the Third Reich was and human dignity. For Jewish people The concurrent resolution was agreed on the verge of collapse, yet Berlin’s most throughout the world, Auschwitz is a reminder urgent priority was to accelerate the ‘‘final to. solution.’’ The death toll in the gas cham- of an unprecedented tragedy, the extreme ex- A motion to reconsider was laid on bers on D-Day, as on any other day, far sur- pression of Hitler’s Nazi regime’s hatred of the the table. passed the enormous Allied losses suffered on Jewish people and their determined attempt to f the beaches of Normandy. annihilate the Jews through genocide. My labor commando was assigned to re- By passing this bill tonight, and through the PROVIDING FOR AN ADJOURN- move garbage from a ramp near the numerous ways other countries and organiza- MENT OR RECESS OF THE TWO crematoria. From there I observed the peak tions have marked the 60th anniversary of the HOUSES of human extermination and heard the liberation of Auschwitz, we collectively and blood-curdling cries of innocents as they Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer were herded into the gas chambers. Once the emphatically demonstrate the world’s aware- a privileged concurrent resolution (H. doors were locked, they had only three min- ness of the terrible wounds inflicted by the hei- Con. Res. 21) and ask for its immediate utes to live, yet they found enough strength nous crimes committed at the hands of Hitler’s consideration. to dig their fingernails into the walls and evil regime, and the need to keep the memory The Clerk read the concurrent reso- scratch in the words ‘‘Never Forget.’’ of these tragic events alive so as to protect lution, as follows: Have we already forgotten? the victims from suffering a second great trag- I also witnessed an extraordinary act of H. CON. RES. 21 edy—that of being forgotten. Resolved by the House of Representatives (the heroism. The Sonderkommando—inmates co- Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield erced to dispose of bodies—attacked the SS Senate concurring), That when the House ad- guards, threw them into the furnaces, set back the balance of my time. journs on the legislative day of Wednesday, fire to buildings and excaped. They were rap- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The January 26, 2005, on a motion offered pursu- idly captured and executed, but their cour- question is on the motion offered by ant to this concurrent resolution by its Ma- age boosted our morale. the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. HYDE) jority Leader or his designee, it stand ad- As the Russians advanced, those of us still that the House suspend the rules and journed until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1, able to work were evacuated deep into Ger- agree to the resolution, H. Res. 39. 2005, or until the time of any reassembly pur- many. My misery continued at Dachau. Dur- The question was taken. suant to section 2 of this concurrent resolu- ing a final death march, while our column The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the tion, whichever occurs first; and that when was being strafed by Allied plans that mis- the Senate recesses or adjourns on Wednes- took us for Wehrmacht troops, I escaped opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of day, January 26, 2005, or Thursday, January with a few others. An armored battalion of those present have voted in the affirm- 27, 2005, on a motion offered pursuant to this GIs brought me life and freedom. I had just ative. concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader turned 16—a skeletal ‘‘subhuman’’ with Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on or his designee, it stand recessed or ad- shaved head and sunken eyes who had been that I demand the yeas and nays. journed until noon on Monday, January 31,

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