Albrecht Weinberg, 99-year-old survived the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen Nazi extermination camps. In 1939, he was originally sentenced to compulsory labour; on April 15, 1945, he was released.According to a Holocaust survivor, he will return his federal order of merit.
Albrecht Weinberg’s decision follows the first time since World War II that a legislative majority was achieved in Germany with the help of the far-right.
The 99-year-old made it through the Nazi death camps of Bergen-Belsen and Auschwitz-Birkenau. In 1939, he was originally sentenced to compulsory labour; on April 15, 1945, he was released.
39 other members of his family were also murdered during the Holocaust, and he witnessed his parents being taken to a gas chamber.
The so-called “influx limitation bill” would have increased the authority of federal police to carry out deportations and prohibited migrant families from getting together.
An earlier vote on Wednesday narrowly succeeded, but it was eventually halted on Friday after being rejected with 350 votes against and 338 in favour.
With the assistance of Alternative for Germany (AfD), whom German parties have traditionally tacitly agreed never to cooperate with, the opposition Conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pushed through the non-binding motion.
Germany should repatriate more migrants at its border, the motion demanded.
Many people believe that the CDU’s collaboration with the AfD breaks the taboo of collaborating with the far right.
The AfD has already caused controversy for its criticism of Germany’s Holocaust memory commemorations and is currently under governmental surveillance due to allegations of far-right extremism.
Politicians and world leaders commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz last Monday.
Another 82-year-old Auschwitz survivor, Eva Umlauf, commented on the vote by drawing comparisons to Germany in the 1930s prior to the rise of Hitler’s Nazis.
“German politicians previously believed they could work with Hitler and the Nazi party, as we all know. She wrote an open letter to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, saying, “Keep them in check.”
And our democracy turned into a tyranny in a matter of years. “War turned into peace,” she said.
He would also return his order of merit, according to photographer Luigi Toscano, whose project ‘Lest We Forget’ tells the memories of Holocaust survivors.
Earlier this week, Mr. Toscano posted on Instagram, saying, “With a resolution and the backing of a party that is partially classified as right-wing extremist, the CDU betrayed our democratic values yesterday.”
With a current polling of roughly 30%, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) combination is predicted to win Germany’s general election scheduled for February 23.
In reaction to a string of recent high-profile murders committed by individuals with immigrant status, CDU leader Freidrich Merz has suggested strengthening immigration regulations.