I want you to imagine a global summit. Okay.
When we usually hear about world leaders, diplomats,
power players gathering in one place, you probably
picture them debating future trade deals. Right,
or climate accords. Exactly, or maybe border
security. But imagine an international summit
where heads of state, artists, and survivors
gather not to argue about the future, but to
grapple with the darkest chapter of human history.
Yeah, the Holocaust. Right. And what we are going
to explore today is how that shared memory of
the past is actively and intensely shaping the
geopolitics of today. Welcome to the Deep Dive.
It really is a profound shift in perspective.
You know, viewing history not merely as a closed
book of settled facts, but as a highly active
diplomatic force that modern nations continually
navigate. And that dynamic is exactly our mission
for this deep dive. We're taking a close look
at a foundational set of sources covering the
World Holocaust Forum. Also known as the Let
My People Live Forum. Yes, exactly. We are going
to explore how this massive series of international
events evolved, how it manages to bring the global
community together, and maybe most surprisingly,
we are going to examine the real, tangible political
tensions that flare up. Especially when modern
nations try to navigate the memory of World War
II. Right, because memory, especially on a national
or international scale, is rarely simple. Oh,
never. It's layered. It is deeply emotional.
And as we will see throughout these sources,
it is highly political. Let's set the scene by
going back to 2005. This is when the World Holocaust
Forum Foundation was officially established.
Under the chairmanship of Vyacheslav Moshe Kampor.
Right, who was serving as the president of the
European Jewish Congress at the time. And the
very first World Holocaust Forum takes place
that same year in Krakow, Poland. The timing
and the location there were deeply intentional.
This first forum was organized to commemorate
the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the
Auschwitz -Birkenau concentration camp. And...
Looking at the guest list from that 2005 event,
you really get a sense of the immense diplomatic
weight this carried right from the very beginning.
Absolutely. I mean, you had more than 20 official
delegations led by their heads of state. It was
huge. We're talking the president of the Russian
Federation, Vladimir Putin. The president of
Israel, Moshe Katsev. Right. The president of
Poland, Alexander Kwasiński. And the vice president
of the United States, Richard Cheney. Having
representatives from those specific nations in
one room to reflect on this history received
widespread media coverage all over the world.
It really set a precedent. Okay, let's unpack
this because the foundation didn't just hold
one event and call it a day. No, they didn't.
They immediately expanded their scope. The second
forum happens the very next year, in 2006. In
Kiev, Ukraine. Right. held under the auspices
of Ukraine's president at the time, Viktor Yushchenko.
And this second forum marks 65 years since the
Babi Yar massacre. Which is such a critical event
to remember. It really is. And for those listening
who might not be familiar with the specifics
of Babi Yar, it's essential context. Babi Yar
is a ravine in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv,
and it was the site of one of the deadliest single
massacres of the Holocaust. Just horrific. In
just two days in September 1941, Nazi forces
systematically murdered over 33 ,000 Jewish men,
women and children there. It's a sight of. unimaginable
tragedy so gathering over a thousand people from
60 different countries at this specific location
in 2006 that was a monumental undertaking you
had representatives from the un the european
union the council of europe various global jewish
congresses too and they didn't just gather to
mourn right they adopted a formal declaration
yes the world holocaust forum declaration a formal
call to unite efforts against xenophobia anti
-semitism and international terrorism if we connect
this to the bigger picture. This is where we
see a fundamental shift in how the international
community approaches this history. Well, for
decades following the Second World War, Holocaust
remembrance was often siloed into individual
national memorials. Right. Every country sort
of doing its own thing. Exactly. Every country
had its own internal way of looking back. But
what Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor and this foundation
did in 2005 and 2006 was purposefully institutionalized
that memory on a global stage. They took the
historical trauma of the Holocaust and explicitly
tied it to modern global security imperatives.
Yes. The underlying message is that remembering
this history is not just about honoring the dead.
It is a required... active mechanism for protecting
the living from modern extremism. But does elevating
this history to the level of global security
and formal declarations run the risk of turning
a profound human tragedy into just another diplomatic
talking point? That is a very valid concern.
Because as we move chronologically into the 2010s,
specifically looking at the events held in Brussels
at the European Parliament, you really see this
institutionalization take root. You do. But looking
at those European Parliament events provides
an interesting answer to that concern. In January
2011, they held a commemoration meeting right
there in the parliament on the eve of International
Holocaust Remembrance Day. Which coincided with
the 66th anniversary of Auschwitz -Birkenau's
liberation. Exactly. You have the president of
the European Parliament, Jerzy Busek, addressing
the crowd alongside Israeli ministers and the
chief rabbi of Tel Aviv. Highly formal. Very
formal. But the 2012 event at the European Parliament
is the one that really stands out in the source
material for its thematic depth. Oh, definitely.
It was time to mark two very specific, very different
historical anniversaries. Yes. It marks 70 years
since the Wannsee Conference. Right. And 50 years
since the end of the trial of Adolf Eichmann.
The juxtaposition of those two milestones is
deeply striking. I mean, the Wannsee Conference,
held in January 1942, was the bureaucratic inception
of the atrocity. It was a clinical administrative
meeting. Exactly. High -ranking Nazi officials
gathered in a villa to coordinate the logistics
of the final solution. It represents the cold,
calculated planning of the Holocaust. But then
you place that next to the Eichmann trial. Right.
The end of that trial. Exactly 50 years prior
to this 2012 forum represents the long, unyielding
arm of international justice. Because Adolf Eichmann
was one of the chief architects of that very
logistics network planned at Wannsee. Yes. And
his trial in Israel was the moment he was finally
held accountable in front of the entire world.
So by marking both of these anniversaries at
the exact same event, they are essentially forcing
modern lawmakers to look at the entire arc of
the tragedy. From the quiet rooms where human
evil is bureaucratically planned to the eventual
decades later triumph of justice. It was a highly
curated lesson in historical cause and effect
for the European Parliament. And this effort
clearly resonated. Yeah. By 2013, the president
of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, officially
declared International Holocaust Remembrance
Day an annual permanent. event for the European
Parliament. It became embedded in the actual
calendar of European governance. Which is a huge
structural commitment. It is. But to address
your earlier question about whether this high
-level institutional buy -in strips away the
human element, we actually need to look at how
these events are structured on the ground. Right.
The foundation for that kind of European parliamentary
commitment was heavily reinforced during the
Third World Holocaust Forum in 2010. That makes
sense. The 2010 forum brought the gathering back
to Krakow, Poland. For the 65th anniversary of
the liberation of Auschwitz. And the sources
note this event heavily emphasized the unparalleled
united struggle of the Allied coalition. Yes,
specifically aiming to remind the global community
of the decisive role the Soviet Union played
in the liberation of Eastern Europe. It was framed
as a starting point of political significance
for all the World War Two victory commemorations
taking place that year. But they grounded that
high level political rhetoric in undeniable human
reality. They certainly did. They didn't just
invite politicians. They invited the living connection
to that history. The veterans. Right. The source
highlights two World War Two veterans, Ivan Martynishkin
and Yakov Vinichenko. They were brought in as
honorary guests. These weren't just random soldiers.
No, these were the actual young men in the Soviet
army who marched through the snow in January
1945 and literally helped open the gates of Auschwitz
-Birkenau. Imagine being a modern European politician
in that room. Sitting across from the men who
physically ended the nightmare 65 years prior,
it makes the history completely inescapable.
Having those veterans present bridges the gap
between abstract policy and lived experience.
Absolutely. And it clearly impacted the global
leaders watching. Even those who couldn't attend
physically make sure their perspectives were
included. Like U .S. President Barack Obama and
French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Right. Both
sent dedicated messages to the forum explicitly
stating that the memory of these events must
factor into modern policy decisions. That desire
to turn historical memory into actionable future
facing policy led to a major tangible outcome
from that 2010 forum. The new university. Yes.
They announced an initiative to establish a totally
new educational institution, a pan -European
university of global security and tolerance.
The goal of this research and educational institution
was to assist the international community in
fighting extremism. It was designed to arrange
cross -cultural educational programs to harmonize
international cooperation. They were using the
lessons of the Holocaust as a foundational curriculum
for modern global security. It is a fascinating
evolution of purpose. And that evolution takes
on a deeply emotional, artistic dimension when
we arrive at the Fourth International Forum in
2015. Marking the 70th anniversary of the Auschwitz
liberation. Right. And it took place in Prague
and Terezin in the Czech Republic. The structure
of this 2015 event is brilliant because it explicitly
highlights the role of the public, not just the
politicians. They split it into two major parts.
First, you had the Forum of World Civil Society
at Prague Castle. And then a commemorative ceremony
at the site of the Terezin concentration camp.
The guest list at Prague Castle was an expansive
mix of diplomacy and civil society. Over 900
guests attended. You had 30 official delegations,
parliament members, scholars. But importantly,
you also had major figures from civil society.
Like human rights activist Abraham Foxman. And
philosopher Bernard -Henri Lévy. They held discussion
panels directly tackling rising anti -Semitism,
neo -Nazism, and religious radicalism. It wasn't
just state leaders talking to state leaders.
It was thought leaders pushing the conversation
forward. But the shift from the political panels
in Prague to the ceremony in Terezin is what
gives this fourth forum its unique power. For
context, Terezin, also known as Terezin Stad,
was a concentration camp that often served as
a transit station. Tens of thousands of Jewish
people were held there before being deported
to extermination camps like Auschwitz. And the
way the forum honored the inmates of Terezin
is deeply moving. Because Terezin held many musicians,
composers, cartoonists, and poets. And despite
the unimaginable horrors, disease, and starvation
they were facing, these inmates maintained their
humanity and their art. It's incredible. A group
of young boys aged 12 to 15 actually published
a secret magazine right there in the camp. called
the rim. which translates to in the lead. They
wrote poetry, essays, and drew artwork, documenting
their lives and their defiance. What's fascinating
here is... What's fascinating here is how the
2015 forum leveraged that specific history of
artistic defiance. Art is brought to the forefront
alongside the standard political declarations.
The official ceremony was hosted by Czech President
Miluš Zeman, but the focal point was undeniably
the music. Yes. You had 98 musicians of the National
Philharmonic And to top it off, you had powerful
performances by the world -famous cantor Joseph
Molovany. And Oscar -winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley.
By bringing in 98 musicians and Oscar -winning
actors, they are making the historical memory
visceral. They aren't just reading a treaty.
Right. They're making modern generations feel
the weight of what was lost and the beauty of
the humanity that resisted. And of course, they
still paired this emotional experience with a
formal declaration adopted by the participants
to combat anti -Semitism and hate crimes. It
seems like the perfect marriage of emotional
resonance and political action. It really does.
But as we move to our final major milestone,
the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in 2020, we see
that this marriage of memory and diplomacy can
be incredibly volatile. Yes, 2020 is where the
complexities of international memory really come
to a head on the global stage. was held in Jerusalem.
The title of the event was Remembering the Holocaust,
Fighting Antisemitism. It was time for the 75th
anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and
the diplomatic weight of this event was just
staggering. 49 high -level delegations attended.
We are talking about French President Emmanuel
Macron, U .S. Vice President Mike Pence, Prince
Charles, German President Frank -Walter Steinmeier,
and leaders from dozens of other nations all
over the globe. It was organized by Vyacheslav
Moshe Kantor, still leading the World Holocaust
Forum Foundation, in cooperation with Yad Vashem.
And for those unaware, Yad Vashem is Israel's
official world -renowned memorial to the victims
of the Holocaust. And the event was held under
the auspices of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
It presented a massive, unified, global front.
Here's where it gets really interesting, because
despite this theme of unity, a major diplomatic
standoff erupted before the event even began.
It did. And just to be incredibly clear here.
To you, our listener, we are completely impartial
regarding this geopolitical dispute. We are not
endorsing the viewpoints of Poland, Russia, or
Yad Vashem in what I am about to describe. We're
simply reporting the diplomatic standoff exactly
as it is documented in our source material. Exactly.
Just to show you how deeply charged historical
memory remains today. It is a textbook example
of the politics of memory, where historical events
are viewed through the lens of modern national
identity. So, according to the source, Polish
President Andrzej Duda outright refused to participate
in the event. And the stated reason? Because
he was not given the opportunity to speak. President
Duda openly criticized the organizers for giving
a speaking slot to Russian President Vladimir
Putin. Right. In the weeks leading up to the
forum, Putin had publicly criticized Poland regarding
its record during World War II. This stems from
a deep historical friction regarding the outbreak
and progression of the war. Russia often highlights
its role as the ultimate liberator of Eastern
Europe from Nazi Germany. Poland, however, emphasizes
a different part of the timeline, specifically
the Molotov -Rubin Pact. A non -aggression pact
between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany at
the start of the war. which led to the Soviet
invasion of Poland in 1939 before Germany eventually
turned on the Soviets. Poland felt its national
narrative and historical suffering were being
sidelined. And this didn't just stay between
Poland and Russia. The diplomatic ripples spread.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Naseta endorsed
President Duda's position. And he actually withdrew
from the summit in solidarity with Poland. This
raises an important question. How do the organizers
of a memorial event navigate a boycott by multiple
heads of state? Yad Vashem, who co -hosted the
event, put out a press release in early January
2020 to explain their decision regarding the
speaking slots. What did they say? They stated
that a Polish speaker was not considered necessary
because, in their view, the speaking roles were
strictly tied to the historical structure of
the liberation. I see. I am quoting their statement
here. They felt it was, quote, especially appropriate
that the leaders addressing this event represent
the four main powers of the Allied forces, which
liberated Europe and the world from the murderous
tyranny of Nazi Germany. This entire controversy
synthesizes everything we have been discussing.
It really does. It proves that memory is never
just about the past. When world leaders gather
to commemorate history, they bring their modern
national identities. Their current diplomatic
grievances. And their ongoing political narratives
with them. The organizers felt they were strictly
adhering to the historical structure of the Allied
liberators. Poland felt its historical trauma
was being overshadowed by a Russian narrative
it fundamentally disputes. It shows us that even
75 years later, the history of World War II is
still actively contested terrain. Okay, let's
take a breath. Yeah. We have journeyed from Krakow
in 2005. through the halls of the European Parliament,
to the deeply moving musical defiance in Terezin,
all the way to a modern diplomatic boycott involving
multiple nations in Jerusalem. So what does this
all mean? For you listening, the core takeaway
is that the World Holocaust Forum proves history
is an active living force. It is not just a subject
you study in a classroom and leave behind. Exactly.
Whether you are prepping for a political science
class, trying to understand the nuances of European
diplomacy, or simply wanting to be an informed
global citizen, you have to realize this understanding
how nations gather to remember their shared past
is crucial to understanding how they interact
with each other in the present. The past is the
lens through which modern security, tolerance,
and alliances are forged. Or in some cases, fractured.
It is a heavy realization, but an incredibly
important one. Thank you so much for joining
us on this deep dive. We covered a lot of ground
today. We did, but we want to leave you with
a final provocative thought to mull over on your
own. If the act of remembering history is powerful
enough to unite 49 nations in a single room,
but also sensitive enough to cause modern heads
of state to boycott international summits who
ultimately owns the narrative of history. Is
it the survivors who actually lived it? Or is
it the modern nations that inherit it and wield
it? Think about that. Keep staying curious. Keep
questioning the world around you. And we will
catch you on the next deep dive.