Poland commemorates 71st anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz

The official ceremony commemorating the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in Poland 71 years ago started on Wednesday.

Polish President Andrzej Duda said in his speech at the event: "Auschwitz is and will always be... a great sign and a warning. A warning of what may happen when the leadership gets lost and confuses the society; ... of what may happen if the international law is being broken but the international community does not react to this; of what may happen if one country attacks the other."

Duda also paid tribute to the guests gathered, among whom were roughly 80 Auschwitz survivors, saying, "I am thankful for your presence today, the presence of witnesses of this frightful truth about Auschwitz."

The anniversary was attended by representatives of several states, including Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, delegations from Israel and Russia, as well as several prominent Polish politicians and respected Polish figures.

Auschwitz concentration camp was established by the Nazis in 1940 following the Nazi attack on Poland in 1939. By 1942, Auschwitz had become the biggest place in Europe dedicated to the mass extermination of European Jews. According to estimates, 1.1 million people lost their lives at the camp including Jews, Polish, Roma, and Russians, among others.

The concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet Army on Jan. 27, 1945, a day which became International Holocaust Remembrance Day.