Looking back. Looking ahead. 2020-2025

148   SPEECHES | DESCENDANTS Descendants Almost 80 years ago, my grandfather stood alongside fellow survivors right here at Dachau Palace to commemorate the victims of the Dachau concentration camp. At a time when all hope appeared lost, he organised several acts of remembrance. Today, nearly 80 years later, we too gather here to comme­ morate the victims of National Socialism – with a special focus on the victims of the Dachau concentration camp. I. My grandfather’s story As the grandson of Dr Paul Husarek, it is an honour for me to share his life and work with you. He was born in 1903 in Mährisch Aussee, in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying philology in Prague and Paris, he became a German-speaking announcer for Radio Prague, where he worked until 1938. He also plied his trade as a translator, proofreader and author. In September 1940, he was arrested by the Gestapo, partly because of his involvement in a book about notable women of his time. The book had been released by a Jewish publisher. In March 1941 , he was deported to Dachau. He was assigned prisoner number 24175 and remained a prisoner there until   the concentration camp was liberated in April 1945. In an interview shortly after his liberation, he recounted the brutal mistreatment he had suffered at Dachau, including   “reverse hanging”, which at times left him so weak that he could not even care for himself. Only when I delved deeper into his biography did I realise how quickly he had assumed a critical role in the liberated camp – despite all the suffering he had endured. II. Commitment after liberation Immediately after the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, the survivors founded the International Prisoners   Committee (IPC), a self-governing body of former inmates. Working in close cooperation with the U.S. military govern- ment, they arranged for liberated prisoners to be returned   to their homelands. My grandfather became head of the   “Press and Culture” division. Despite the unimaginable horrors he had endured, he chose to stay here. He wanted to preserve the memory of the victims while daring to dream of a new dawn. He started a family in Dachau – a courageous step and a   testament to his profound belief in reconciliation and renewal. In the autumn of 1945, he was appointed head of the Interna- tional Information Office (IIO), an institution that supported survivors, issued certificates of imprisonment, coordinated some of the first acts of remembrance and prepared publica- tions such as The Dead of Dachau . He played a pivotal role in these efforts, drawing upon his language skills to give victims a voice. His book The Dead of Dachau: Germans and Austrians –   A Memorial and ReferenceWork is the fruit of his tireless commitment to remembrance work. It remains an important volume to this day. Shortly after the concentration camp had been liberated, he also helped document the crimes and assisted the U.S. military government during the Dachau Trials. Despite his own trauma, he made it his mission to keep the memory of the victims alive and to process his   experiences through writing. The early post-war years were marked by the challenges of a new beginning, as survivors wrestled with the traumas that would remain with them for life. But this did not stop them from becoming early advocates for remembrance, encouraging people to honour the dead, recognise the miracle of survival and embrace life. III. Responsibility today Around 80 years after the liberation of the Nazi concentra- tion camps, we carry a profound responsibility.We must keep the memory of the victims alive and ensure that the lessons learned from the darkest chapter of human history are never forgotten. This act of remembrance reminds us not to let the horrors of the past slip from our consciousness. At a time when the voices of contemporary witnesses are gradually fading away, it is our duty to preserve their stories and foster an active culture