Eighty years after the Holocaust, Meryl Eisenhower Atwater, the great-grandson of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, expressed deep concerns on Thursday as countries worldwide marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies, culminating in a conflict that claimed around 40 million lives, including six million Jews.
Last month, Eisenhower Atwater participated in the March of the Living on Holocaust Remembrance Day. This event involved walking with survivors along a route from Auschwitz to Birkenau, paying homage to victims and honoring both survivors and their liberators.
“Sitting with 80 Holocaust survivors is incredibly special. Hearing them say, ‘This would never have happened without your courage,’ resonates deeply,” he remarked.
Among the marchers were the child survivors of Meia Lau, a former chief rabbi of Israel, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who took part in the efforts against the Nazis during the camp liberations.
Eisenhower Atwater reflected on Chime Herzog, father of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who also participated in the march. Herzog played a role in the release of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War II.
Eisenhower Atwater described being part of the event as an act of “humility,” allowing him to connect with those often overlooked.
Survivor Eva Clark particularly left an impression on him. “She’s one of the kindest souls I’ve met. To think the gas had run out just days before her birth—it feels like divine intervention,” he shared. Clark was born in the Mauthausen concentration camp on April 29, 1945.
Clark’s mother endured immense hardships during three and a half years in various camps, ultimately being transported with 2,000 others on a grueling 17-day journey to Mauthausen.
Clark recounted her family’s ordeal: “My parents were in Terezin for three years. Eventually, my father was sent to Auschwitz, and my mother insisted on following him, unaware of what lay ahead.”
Sadly, she never saw her husband again, as witnesses later disclosed he was executed during a death march in January 1945. Remarkably, Clark’s mother became pregnant during these harrowing times, which carried severe risks.
Clark’s survival story is intertwined with moments of fate: “It was a sign of luck,” she said, referencing how her survival aligned with vital moments during the war.
Reflecting on the ethical lessons from his great-grandfather’s life, Eisenhower Atwater stressed our common humanity. “We all recognize what is right and wrong. The atrocities committed are undeniable,” he stated. He acknowledged the denial surrounding the Holocaust often stems from mistrust and an unwillingness to confront such horrific realities. “It’s a complex topic, and yet, it happened,” he added.
