Looking back. Looking ahead. 2020-2025

DESCENDANTS | SPEECHES   149 of remembrance.When I was invited to speak here today, I felt a deep conflict within me. My grandfather had been a leading figure in early remem- brance work, preserving his humanity in mankind’s darkest hour. But I never had the chance to meet him. And I had no personal experience of his suffering. How could I possibly speak in his place? At first, it felt as though I might be claiming something that was not mine. But in conversations with the memorial staff, I came to un- derstand that remembrance is a shared legacy. It concerns all of us. It is not rooted in personal experience alone, but in the responsibility we share – towards the victims, their descend- ants and the society in which we live. That is why standing here today is not only an honour, but also an obligation. In the quiet moments I spent writing this speech, one par- ticular question kept forming in my mind:Would I have been willing to risk everything and show as much courage as my grandfather did? I cannot say. But I admire him and all those who confronted injustice with unyielding bravery. Their strength granted us the freedom to even ask such questions today. Every generation carries the responsibility of sustaining   remembrance and raising awareness among those who follow. Memorial sites like Dachau are not simply “museums of   horror”; they are places of learning, reflection and warning. They call on us to uphold human rights, promote tolerance   and defend our democracy every single day. An active culture of remembrance means viewing the present through the mirror of the past, standing up boldly against all forms of antisemitism, racism and inhumanity, and choosing solidarity over exclusion. We stand at a turning point: Soon, there will be no survivors left to recount their personal experiences. This makes it all the more important to preserve their testimonies and their legacy – in archives, at memorial sites, in digital projects…   and above all, in our hearts. IV. Looking ahead The remembrance work that my grandfather and many   other survivors helped to establish can only live on through our continued commitment. It does not matter how old we are, what religion we follow   or where we come from.What matters is our shared responsi- bility for a humane society. Let us continue to honour the memory of the victims of war and all concentration camps. In doing so, we can help protect the dignity of every human being. Ladies and Gentlemen, We stand today in Dachau Palace – the very place from which, in November 1945, the first radio broadcasts commemorating the victims of the concentration camp sent ripples throughout the world. This place stands as a symbol of the miracle of survival and rebirth in the aftermath of unimaginable crimes. For my grandfather, Dr Paul Husarek, Dachau was not only a place of terror. It is also where he managed to hold on to his humanity – and where he chose to join others in fighting for an open and just society that is rooted in remembrance. Let us take the torch that they lit. Let us remain vigilant together. And let us stand united to ensure that such crimes never happen again. Thank you.