COLUMBUS, Ohio — Decades have passed since Nazis killed 6 million Jews and millions of others they deemed undesirable, making the horrors of the Holocaust sometimes difficult to imagine in 2025.

What You Need To Know

  • On Jan. 27, 1945, Allied forces liberated the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, marking a major milestone in the road to the end of World War II

  • In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, celebrated on January 27 each year, descendants of survivors gathered at the Statehouse to pay tribute to the 6 million Jews who lost their lives

  • Families of survivors said keeping the memory of their loved ones alive is a way to help prevent the horrors of the Holocaust from happening again

But 80 years ago, on Jan. 27, 1945, Allied forces liberated the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, marking a major milestone in the road to the end of World War II.

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day Monday, descendants of survivors gathered at the Statehouse to pay tribute to their loved ones and all those who lost their lives.

“Most of my friends, their grandparents, are Holocaust survivors,” said Aaron Sugarman. “So the connection is really deep.”

Sugarman’s grandfather, Morris Dach, was taken to Auschwitz and survived by escaping a prisoner death march, hiding in a forest until he was liberated by the Allies.  

“I think he’d be incredibly proud that everything he talked to his family about, you know, we learned and listened,” Sugarman said. “And we’re out fighting the same fight that he was.”

Sugarman joined other family members of Holocaust survivors in lighting a candle for the millions killed by Nazis during the Statehouse ceremony.

“As we lose more Holocaust survivors, every day is imperative for us to tell our stories, preserve the memory, so that we may prevent such atrocities from ever happening again,” said Robbie Friedman, also a third-generation Holocaust survivor.

Friedman said all four of his grandparents lived through the Holocaust, something that changed Friedman’s view on life from an early age.

“I thought it was totally normal to look out the window on a long car ride and wonder if I could hide in that forest when the Nazis came for me,” he said.

Gov. Mike DeWine said his father served with the U.S. forces in World War II and witnessed the aftermath of a death camp after its liberation, vividly recalling the victims he found inside.

“We study history for many reasons, but one reason is so that we have a foundation and we understand what has happened in the past,” DeWine said. “And that helps us to guide what we do in the future.”

Sandy Hackman said she is lucky to be a first-generation American born to Holocaust survivors.

“My mom always taught me to do the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag,” she said. “She literally kissed the ground when she got off the ship.”

Hackman said attending events like this is tough, but something she has to do.

“It brings me close to my mom and I understand all the things my grandfather did to save the family,” she said. “They went through hell, but they were happy to be here.”

Here to remind the world what horrors can come from hate.

“This could happen to anyone,” Sugarman said. “It’s not just about Jewish people.”

The executive director of the Ohio Holocaust & Genocide Memorial & Education Commission said the event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Statehouse is part of a year of scheduled events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.