This month, one of the deadliest and most vicious acts in modern history perpetrated on the human race will be remembered at a special ceremony.

This Saturday, 27th January marks the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, the largest Nazi death camp, by Allied forces towards the end of the Second World War. Coordinated nationally by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, ‘The Power of Words’ is the theme for the 2018 commemorations.

This year’s city-wide event is being organised by Cllr Sarah Bevan, the Human Rights Spokesperson for B&NES Council, and Nathan Hartley, Vice-Chairman of the Bath Interfaith Group.

Cllr Sarah Bevan (Independent, Peasedown St John) has been a champion of human rights, particularly in the remembrance of Holocaust atrocities, since joining the local authority in 2003, and is the daughter of a survivor.

She said: “Every year on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz extermination camp, we remember the six million Jewish children, women and men murdered by the genocidal Nazi regime.

“This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Words’ encourages each of us to think about the words and language that allowed this and other racially motivated acts of hatred to happen – every-day discrimination and the tendency latent in all of us to see some people as less worthy than others.”

During the Nazi rule over Germany and invasion of other European countries, as well as millions of Jews, other groups of people were targeted, captured and killed, such as gypsies; those who were gay or lesbian, liberals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Polish, Soviets, those with mental and physical disabilities, and Afro-Germans.

The guest speaker at this year’s commemorative event is Father Bede Rowe, who was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 2004 and is currently parish priest of Our Lady St Mary of Glastonbury and St Michael, Shepton Mallet. Event organiser, Nathan Hartley, said: “We’re grateful to Father Bede for accepting our invitation to speak at this very poignant event, which is being marked on the same day all over the world.

“As well as his pastoral duties in Somerset, he has also studied Catholic Jewish relations, for which he will shortly be awarded a PhD from Durham University’s department of Theology and Religion.”

Bath’s annual event to honour victims of the European and other holocausts will be held on Holocaust Memorial Day 2018, on Saturday from 6 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House, York Street.

The Bath Interfaith Group, who recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, will be taking part in the event and are very generously providing a buffet. For details, visit: www.facebook.com/BathInterfaith