Luxembourg non-profit organisation Témoins de la 2ème génération (Witnesses from the second generation) has announced that on Thursday 29 October 2026, a group of 150 people travelled to Poland to take part in the 29th visit to the Auschwitz I and Birkenau camps. 

The non-profit organisation said the initiative aims to preserve the memory of the victims of the Holocaust while raising awareness among younger generations of the continuing dangers of antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination.

Among the participants were 120 young people from several Luxembourg secondary schools, the University of Luxembourg and a secondary school in Trier. They were accompanied by members of their teaching and educational staff, as well as volunteers from the association.

In addition to visiting the Auschwitz Museum and the former Birkenau extermination camp, the young participants took part in themed and creative workshops. These addressed essential topics such as the importance of Holocaust remembrance, Jewish identity, the role of art in passing on this memory, and the vulnerability of contemporary societies to discrimination. One of the highlights was the opportunity to meet and exchange views with representatives of the second and third generations.

In the spirit of passing on historical memory, second-generation witnesses Julien Joseph and Henri Juda reminded the young participants of their fundamental role in preserving this legacy:

“It is up to you, young people, not to look away when you hear or see that an injustice is taking place. Take action and work towards greater understanding between people,” said Julien Joseph, born in 1947, son of parents persecuted during the Holocaust.

“Thank you for being here, for taking the time and committing yourselves to a cause that does not necessarily affect you directly, but for which you recognise that minorities may be in danger, particularly in light of current conflicts,” added Henri Juda, born in 1947, son of a woman who was deported and a victim of the Holocaust.

Témoins de la 2ème génération said these words serve as a powerful call for responsibility and commitment in the face of the threats posed by forgetting and hatred.

One young participant expressed her feelings: “I hope we will never have to experience this fear, coldness or anonymity. We all have a value that nobody should ever be allowed to take away from us.”

Témoins de la 2ème génération president, Charles Goerens, emphasised: “Eight decades after the liberation of Auschwitz, introducing young people to reflection on the Holocaust remains just as relevant, given the worrying resurgence of antisemitism and Holocaust denial in many European countries. The association intends to continue along this path and is already preparing the 30th visit to the camps in 2027.”

2026 Participants

⁃ Athénée de Luxembourg

⁃ École de Commerce et de Gestion

⁃ École Privée Sainte-Anne

⁃ Lycée des Arts et Métiers

⁃ Lycée Aline Mayrisch Luxembourg

⁃ Lycée Classique Echternach

⁃ Lycée Guillaume Kroll

⁃ Lycée du Nord

⁃ Jugendtreff Troisvierges

⁃ Jugendhaus Niederanven

⁃ Humboldt-Gymnasium Trier

⁃ “Jonker fir Jonker” project of Lycée Classique Diekirch and Nordstad-Lycée

⁃ University of Luxembourg (uni.lu)


The project was supported by Fondation luxembourgeoise pour la Mémoire de la Shoah, Comité Auschwitz Luxembourg and Cactus S.A.