Overview

• Ruth Winkelmann, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, recounted her liberation in Berlin on May 8, 1945, describing it as a moment of profound silence and relief.
• She shared her experiences of forced labor at age 13 and the loss of her father, who was deported to the Monowitz concentration camp in 1943 and killed.
• Appearing on ZDF's 'Markus Lanz,' Winkelmann expressed fears about the rise of right-wing populist parties like the AfD and their potential impact on democracy.
• Winkelmann emphasized the importance of Holocaust education, continuing to deliver at least two lectures weekly to younger generations about her wartime experiences.
• American theorist Jason Stanley also voiced concerns on the program, warning of the resurgence of Nazi-era language in politics and broader threats to democratic values.