Holocaust Survivor Returns Medal in Protest Against Anti-Immigration Motion in Germany
A 99-year-old Holocaust survivor has declared his intention to return his federal order of merit to the German president as a protest against a recent anti-immigration motion passed in parliament with backing from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Albrecht Weinberg, whose parents were victims of Auschwitz, expressed his horror upon discovering that Conservative party members used the AfD’s support to push the motion through.
In an interview with the Guardian, Weinberg stated, "You know German history. You know then how some people posing as democrats in 1933 abused the legal political process to get into power. What happened in the Bundestag on Wednesday reminded me of Germany in 1933, of how Hitler and the Nazi party managed to come to power through legitimate means."
Weinberg's shock was palpable as he conveyed his outrage over the Bundestag voting, which included a nonbinding motion from the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) advocating for policies aimed at turning migrants and asylum seekers away at the German border. The measure felt eerily reminiscent of historical events leading up to the Nazi regime’s rise in power, he said.
"The Nazis wanted to get rid of my family even though we were German citizens," Weinberg recalled. "They succeeded in murdering my parents and almost killed me and my siblings. Now these politicians want to chase everyone out who they don’t like. Did they learn nothing from the Second World War?" His dismay culminated in a spur-of-the-moment decision to return his medal, awarded for his efforts to raise Holocaust awareness in schools.
As the motion was discussed, the leader of the CDU, Friedrich Merz, faced criticism for cooperating with the AfD, which breached a long-standing taboo among mainstream German parties. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel publicly rebuked Merz, reminding him of a pledge to keep the far right at bay. Despite his condemnation, some members of the CDU proceeded to align with the AfD in a move that many see as a dangerous precedent.
Photographer Luigi Toscano, a friend of Weinberg's and who documented the stories of Holocaust survivors in his project, also plans to return his order of merit in solidarity. Toscano stated that he and Weinberg would deliver their medals to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, emphasizing the importance of this symbolic act. If the president does not meet them, he mentioned that they would consider leaving their medals in his mailbox instead.
The timing of these events is critical, following a memorial service commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January. The recent motion has sparked heated debate, with voices across Germany's political spectrum denouncing the cooperation with the AfD. Merkel echoed concerns over any association with the far-right, issuing a statement highlighting her belief that no mainstream party should ever collaborate with such groups.
Eva Umlauf, 82, who also survived Auschwitz, shared her concerns in a letter, reflecting on the historical parallels, noting how past political decisions in the 1930s facilitated the rise of tyranny, stating, "We all know how German politicians once thought they could cooperate with Hitler and the Nazi party. Keep them in check. And how in just a few years our democracy became a dictatorship. Peace became war."
Weinberg, who will turn 100 in March, cannot help but recall the ghost of his past—a reminder of the persecution once faced, and the chilling thought of needing to pack his bags again in a country he still considers home. This poignant episode underscores the cyclical nature of history and highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting democratic values against rising xenophobia.
Related Sources: