UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi death camp in Poland, to pay tribute to Holocaust victims, The Associated Press reported. Between 1940 and 1945, 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, died in gas chambers or from disease, forced labor or starvation at Auschwitz.
"I stand in disbelief before the gas chambers and crematorium -- and shudder at the cruelty of those who designed the death factory," Ban said in prepared remarks in the nearby town of Oswiecim.
"Nothing can truly prepare on for the epicenter of evil where systematic murder unique in human history reached its atrocious climax. I stare at the piles of glasses, hair, shoes, prayer shawls and dolls, and try to imagine the individual Jews and others to whom they belonged," he added.
The UN secretary general "laid flowers at the executions wall, where thousands of inmates, mostly Polish resistance embers were shot to death," The Associated Press also reported.
Ban also visited the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot synagogue, which represented the only building still standing, which predates the Holocaust, HaAretz reported.
"The world must never forget, deny or downplay the Holocaust. We will stand in eternal solidarity with the survivors and safeguard their testimony so their legacy will never die," Ban said.
Ban also visited Krakow, which is located about 31 miles from Auschwitz, HaAretz also reported. The Krakow Ghetto was liquidated between June 1942 and March 1943, with many inhabitants sent to Belzec and Auschwitz extermination camps.
Ban Ki moon addressed the survivors in attendance, saying "you have my deepest admiration for your courage and perseverance. And you are a leading example of how we can let our succeeding generations learns lessons from this horrible past."
Ban bowed his head in solemn remembrance and laid a wreath to honor the six million Jews who were exterminated in the Holocaust.
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