The Volkswagen Group has announced a donation of 150,000 euros to support the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC) and the International Youth Meeting Center (IYMC) in Oświęcim, Poland. This initiative continues Volkswagen’s ongoing efforts to promote remembrance of the victims of National Socialism.
The IAC brings together Auschwitz survivors and their organizations from 19 countries, focusing on commemorative and educational work. The IYMC serves as an educational institution founded with the help of former prisoners of Auschwitz, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, and the city of Oświęcim.
Thomas Schäfer, member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core and CEO Volkswagen Brand, stated: “We cannot remain indifferent to what we are seeing today – growing hatred, marginalization and historical amnesia. For years, we at Volkswagen have supported the work of the International Auschwitz Committee and the International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim. Our trainees show huge commitment in their work there. They listen, ask questions and tell others about what they have learned. These experiences leave a mark and show how important remembrance, education and stance are – particularly in this day and age.”
Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Council, added: “People at Volkswagen have been committed to fostering a strong culture of remembrance in our company for decades. The commitment of our trainees in Auschwitz is one example; another is the permanent exhibition “Memorial to Forced Labor on the Wolfsburg Factory Site”. The Group Works Council initiated many of the remembrance projects or supported them from an early stage. Given the increasing polarization and racism in society, we are delighted that Volkswagen has now decided to provide support to the IAC and the IYMC, which aims to help counteract this disastrous trend.”
Christoph Heubner, Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, said: “Especially in these turbulent and worrying times, when we are seeing new anti-Semitic riots and right-wing extremist threats in many countries across Europe, the Volkswagen Group’s stance and financial backing for the IAC and Holocaust survivors is a recognition of its commitment and a signal of solidarity that is helpful and important to them.”
Volkswagen’s relationship with concentration camp survivors dates back several decades through joint projects at Auschwitz. The first project involving German trainees took place in 1987. Since 1989, both German and Polish trainees have participated together at these sites. Over 3,600 trainees as well as hundreds of managers have visited Auschwitz for such initiatives.
Volkswagenwerk GmbH was founded in 1937 under Germany’s National Socialist regime as part of its labor organization efforts. During World War II it became involved in military production using forced laborers. Today’s Volkswagen AG emphasizes remembrance activities as a key element within its corporate culture.
