On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the Terezín Commemoration took place at the National Cemetery in front of the Small Fortress in Terezín. Attended by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, it served as this year’s principal commemorative event of the Terezin Memorial marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation and the end of World War II.
The event was organized by the Terezín Memorial in cooperation with the Ústí nad Labem Region, the City of Terezín, the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic, and the Terezín Initiative. The Terezín Commemoration 2025 was held under the auspices of the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Martin Baxa.
The Terezín Commemoration is held every year on the third Sunday in May, marking the conclusion of the International Resistance Memorial Days and referring to the so-called Buchenwald Oath. This oath was a declaration made in 1945 by the liberated prisoners of the Buchenwald concentration camp, pledging never to cease commemorating the events of the war until all the roots of Nazism have been eradicated.
In addition to the former prisoners, the Commemoration was attended by the constitutional officials and government representatives of the Czech Republic, including legislators, as well as diplomats from the missions accredited in the Czech Republic from countries whose citizens had passed through the repressive facilities in Terezín and Litoměřice, and by officials of domestic and foreign martyrological institutions.
The commemorative gathering opened with the arrival of the Guard of Honour and members of the Army of the Czech Republic, followed by the laying of wreaths and bouquets. The national anthem was then performed by baritone Petr Matuszko. Afterwards, the participants were welcomed by the Director of the Terezín Memorial, Jan Roubínek. The keynote address was delivered by the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala.
The next speaker was Fedor Gál, a survivor of the Terezín Ghetto who was born there eighty years ago, in March 1945. The Christian and Jewish prayers were followed by a musical performance by the girls’ choir Puellae Cantantes from Litoměřice, which concluded the program of this year’s Commemoration.
This year’s program was complemented by a musical matinee featuring performances by members of the Vienna Philharmonic. At the same time, a short film by Miloš Zvěřina entitled Tomíček was screened.
Naděžda Seifertová (based on the press release of the Terezín Memorial)
