Holocaust Survivor Mala Tribich Warns of Atrocity Repeat 80 Years After Bergen-Belsen Liberation
A Holocaust survivor has issued a stark warning that it is "up to us to guard against" a repetition of the Second World War atrocity 80 years after the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated. Mala Tribich, who was around 14 when she was deported to the camp with her younger cousin, recounted her harrowing experiences to Sky News.
Tens of thousands of people, including diarist Anne Frank, died at the camp in northern Germany, which was liberated by British troops on 15 April 1945. Mrs Tribich, who spent less than three months there, said she still remembers what she went through because "you don’t forget that". She hopes that "nothing like that will ever happen again, and of course, it’s up to us to guard against it, and I hope that some people have learned the lessons."
In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Mrs Tribich shared her story of survival, which began when she was born in Poland in 1930. She was around nine years old when the Nazis invaded, forcing her family to move into a ghetto. Her mother and eight-year-old sister were murdered by the Nazis in a local forest before she was taken to the Ravensbruck concentration camp with her younger cousin in November 1944.
Their clothes were taken and their heads shaved, leaving them "stripped of their identity," she said. This caused people to "lose hope, and without hope, you can’t survive, people give up and it showed itself very quickly". After about 10 weeks, Ms Tribich and her cousin were transported in cattle trucks to Bergen-Belsen, where she found people who looked "like skeletons" and "piles of corpses… it was horrific".
They moved to a children’s home in the camp, which was "a real bit of luck because we wouldn’t have survived in the main camp". She was so sick from typhus that she does not remember much of liberation day, but eventually reunited with her brother, Ben, in England in March 1947. Mrs Tribich, who was made an MBE in 2012 for services to education, tells her story in schools and colleges across the UK through the Holocaust Educational Trust.
According to Sky News, Trust chief executive Karen Pollock said the scenes that British soldiers found in Bergen-Belsen were of "unimaginable horror – thousands of unburied bodies and tens of thousands of emaciated and gravely ill prisoners". Thousands more people lost their lives even after liberation, she said.
As we mark 80 years since that day, we reflect on Britain’s connection to the Holocaust – both through the British soldiers who liberated the camp, and the survivors who found refuge in this country. With survivors and liberators dwindling in number and with antisemitism continuing to persist in our society – we must all commit to remembering the six million Jewish victims and must take action to ensure antisemitism is never again allowed to thrive, Sky News reports.
Mrs Tribich’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust and the importance of continued vigilance against hatred and intolerance. As Sky News highlights, it is essential that we learn from the past and work towards a future where such atrocities can never happen again.
The warning from Mrs Tribich comes at a time when concerns about rising antisemitism are growing. The UK’s Prince William and Kate Middleton have met with Holocaust survivors, highlighting the importance of remembering the past and learning from it. As Sky News reports, Mala Tribich’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for resilience and survival in the face of unimaginable horror.
In a meeting with the King, Mrs Tribich was urged to write a book about her experiences because "it’s really very important that all these things are put down because you will forget them". Her story, and those of other Holocaust survivors, serves as a vital reminder of the importance of preserving history and ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten.
For those who may be struggling with the content of this article, support is available. The Holocaust Educational Trust provides a range of resources and support for those affected by the Holocaust and those who want to learn more about this significant historical event.
By sharing her story, Mrs Tribich hopes to educate future generations about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. As Sky News reports, her message is clear: we must all play a role in guarding against the repetition of such atrocities.
The liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp 80 years ago marked a significant moment in history, but it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against hatred and intolerance. As Mala Tribich’s story highlights, it is essential that we continue to learn from the past and work towards a future where such atrocities can never happen again.
In the words of Mala Tribich, "The world is different today. Different things are happening which are not very palatable, not very acceptable, but we must just constantly work against those terrible forces around us that make terrible things happen." As Sky News reports, her warning is a timely reminder of the importance of vigilance and action against hatred and intolerance.
