Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Remembrance Day for the victims of National Socialism is a national memorial day in the Federal Republic of Germany and has been observed since 1996 on the 27th of January.

The day commemorates all the victims of the totalitarian regime during the Nazi era: Jews, Christians, Gypsies, the disabled, homosexuals, political dissidents, as well as men and women of the resistance, artists, scientists, journalists, prisoners of war and deserters, male and female forced laborers as well as the millions of people who under the Nazi dictatorship were disenfranchised, persecuted, tortured and murdered.

The anniversary was introduced on the 3rd of January 1996 by President Roman Herzog and fixed for the 27th of January. On the 27th of January 1945, the Red Army soldiers had liberated the survivors of the extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

On that day, the memories of the crimes of the Nazis are kept alive nationwide  at many events such as readings, theaters or church services.