OSWIECIM, Poland (AFP) — Angela Merkel visits the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz on Friday for the first time in her 14 years as chancellor, as Germany grapples with a resurgence of anti-Semitism and the growth of the far-right.
Merkel will become only the third German chancellor ever to visit the camp in Poland, with her highly symbolic trip coming ahead of the 75th anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945.
On the eve of her trip, Merkel said that “the fight against anti-Semitism and against all forms of hate” was a priority for her government.
The 65-year-old also promised “determination” from the government in making Jewish life flourish in Germany.
Merkel will begin the visit at around 0930 GMT by walking through a gate bearing the chilling Nazi message “Arbeit macht frei” (Work will set you free).
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She will hold a minute’s silence by the Death Wall where thousands of prisoners were shot dead.
Merkel will also give a speech during the visit, as well as laying a wreath at the nearby Birkenau camp.
The visit “is a particularly important signal of attention and solidarity at a time when Auschwitz survivors are victims of anti-Semitic insults and hate-filled emails,” said Christoph Heubner, deputy chairman of the Auschwitz International Committee.
Ahead of her trip, Germany’s federal states approved a 60 million euro ($66 million) donation for the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation.
