In his fortnightly column MARK SEDDON reflects on the death of Major Oak and why such ancient trees matter to us
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The man who tried to warn the world about Auschwitz
A remarkable book tells the story of the first Jews to escape from the now-infamous Nazi death camp – but at that time most Jews of Europe had no idea of the horrors taking place behind the barbed wire, explains MARY DAVIS
BARBARITY: ‘Selection’ of Hungarian Jews on the ramp at Auschwitz-Il-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, May/June 1944, during the final phase of the Holocaust; and (right) a watchtower at Auschwitz I camp
The world’s largest communist party marked its 105th birthday this week — and remains true to its principles and firm in its course, says OLIVER VARGAS
The left has become too reliant on persuasion and too detached from the workplaces and communities it seeks to represent, argues NICK TROY
RAMZY BAROUD highlights how Israel’s ambassador sought to shut down UN officials documenting sexual violence and abuses against Palestinians
The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has had far-reaching consequences, including a boost to Pakistan’s regional standing, argues ROGER McKENZIE
The recent heatwaves revealed how ill-prepared Britain remains for a hotter future – and how unequal the ability to cope with it has become, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The drive to strengthen European defence is reshaping relations between France, Germany, Italy and Britain, says NICK WRIGHT
ORDINARY PEOPLE is the theme and title chosen by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for the commemoration of HMD 2023.
In the trust’s words: “Genocide is facilitated by ordinary people. Ordinary people turn a blind eye, believe propaganda, join murderous regimes. And those who are persecuted, oppressed and murdered in genocide aren’t persecuted because of crimes they’ve committed — they are persecuted simply because they are ordinary people who belong to a particular group.”
But what this statement leaves out is the victims. These too were ordinary people — millions of them, including six million Jews.
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MARJ MAYO sees the contemporary relevance of this account of the consequences of a society’s accommodation with evil
As antisemitism grows, the labour movement must recommit to defence of minorities while navigating the complexities of Gaza and global politics, argues NICK WRIGHT
On May 16 1944, Romani families in Auschwitz-Birkenau armed themselves with stones, tools, and sheer collective will, forcing the SS to retreat – leaving a legacy of defiance that speaks directly to the fascisms of today, says VICTORIA HOLMES
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco died 50 years ago today November 20. JIM JUMP looks back at his blood-soaked rule and toxic legacy on Spain today