80 Years After Auschwitz’s Liberation, ‘Never Again’ Is Now

Exactly 80 years ago, on January 27, 1945, the world witnessed the liberation of Auschwitz, with the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust on full display. More than 1.1 million Jews were systematically and brutally murdered in Auschwitz, cementing it as one of the most harrowing symbols of humanity’s darkest period.  

Given the Holocaust’s enormity and relatively recent history, its atrocities should be deeply ingrained in our collective memory. Unfortunately, eight decades later, a disturbing number of people question, distort, or outright deny the acts of evil that took place.   

With 20% of adults worldwide stating that they have never heard of the Holocaust, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)’s recent Global 100 survey paints a sobering picture: the fight for memory, truth, and justice is far from over.  

So how can we ensure that “Never Again” holds meaning in a world where Holocaust denial and distortion are on the rise?   

To confront this challenge, we must first look at the facts.  

First launched in 2014, the ADL Global 100 remains the most comprehensive study of antisemitic attitudes worldwide. The latest survey gathered responses from more than 58,000 adults across 103 countries and territories, covering 94% of the global adult population.  

Our findings are deeply concerning: 46% of the world’s adult population — an estimated 2.2 billion people — hold elevated levels of antisemitic attitudes.

In just a decade, this figure has more than doubled from nearly 1.1 billion, highlighting a disturbing rise in hatred and ignorance.  

When asked about the Holocaust, 4% of respondents worldwide — around 280 million people — denied its existence outright.  

And while outright denial remains deeply alarming, distortion — a more insidious form of denial — is becoming even more widespread.

For example, fewer than half of the respondents, only 48%, acknowledge the Holocaust as a historically accurate event. Even more troubling, a staggering 17%, around 1 in 6 adults worldwide, misrepresent its scope, minimizing its gravity and distorting the truth of what transpired.  

Examining the issue globally, we see that geographic differences significantly impact levels of Holocaust distortion. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have the highest rates, with 33% of adults holding distorted views, followed by Asia at 18%.

In these regions, where Holocaust education is far from standard, nearly half of adults in MENA and Africa (46%) and a third in Asia (33%) — have never heard of the Holocaust.  

Additionally, while MENA countries struggle significantly with accurate Holocaust recognition, three Asian countries — Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India — rank among the lowest five in the world for Holocaust awareness. With their combined populations nearing 1.9 billion, this highlights the critical need for Holocaust education initiatives in both MENA and Asia. 

In addition to regional complexities, a spotlight on young adults aged 18 to 34 reveals troubling patterns. Among this demographic, only 39% worldwide recognize the historical accuracy of the Holocaust, and they are 13 percentage points more prone to antisemitic beliefs compared to older generations. In other words, we’re sitting on a demographic time bomb. 

While these statistics are significant, they compel us to ask: What now? The challenge lies in shaping our next moves and determining our course of action. How can we effectively address these concerning trends? 

The answer lies in a comprehensive, whole-of-society approach. To combat antisemitism in general — and Holocaust denialism or distortion in particular — we need the active involvement of governments, civil society, and individuals alike.  

Now is the time to act, and each of us has a role to play.  

Additionally, another important aspect is equipping the general public with educational tools about Jewish identity, history, and the Holocaust, to better recognize and confront antisemitism. This approach is supported by research conducted by ADL’s Center for Antisemitism Research (CAR), highlighting that respondents who agreed with more anti-Jewish tropes knew significantly less about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history, including underestimating the number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust. 

ADL is at the forefront of this battle, actively working to provide diverse populations globally with resources aimed at recognizing and confronting antisemitism. Holocaust education programs like Echoes & Reflections and its student activities series “Explore the Past, Shape the Future” are vital components of ADL’s strategy to fill educational gaps, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive Holocaust education as a means to foster understanding, empathy, and critical thinking.  

In the face of rising Holocaust denial and distortion, the responsibility falls on us to act decisively. As we mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, we hold the duty to honor those whose lives were brutally taken, preserving the truth for future generations. We must commit to learning, teaching, and standing up against hate in all its forms.  

The fight for memory, truth, and justice is far from over. Together, it is our duty to ensure that it continues on.   

Amb. Marina Rosenberg is the Anti-Defamation League’s Senior Vice President for International Affairs.

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