German Corporations Unite to Reinforce Holocaust Remembrance and Combat Antisemitism

In a joint statement released on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2026, leading German companies including Borussia Dortmund, Deutsche Bahn AG, Deutsche Bank AG, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Volkswagen Group underscored their historical responsibility to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and to actively combat antisemitism. Collaborating with the Friends of Yad Vashem, these corporations emphasized the importance of continued education and remembrance as the number of Holocaust survivors diminishes.

The CEOs of these companies highlighted the Survivors' Declaration, a crucial benchmark for remembrance introduced by survivors in 2002. Evelyn Palla, CEO of Deutsche Bahn, stressed that "remembering the victims of the Holocaust is an integral part of our societal responsibility," while Deutsche Bank's Christian Sewing affirmed the necessity of ensuring the Holocaust's crimes remain in public memory. Volkswagen's Oliver Blume declared his company’s commitment to fostering a "culture of remembrance," and Mercedes-Benz's Ola Källenius emphasized the need to combat antisemitism and promote diversity within society.

Borussia Dortmund’s Carsten Cramer pointed to the value of educational initiatives focused on Nazi crimes and personal engagement with survivors. Kai Diekmann of Yad Vashem highlighted the collective societal duty to remember and act against antisemitism. Furthermore, Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, announced a global campaign aimed at raising awareness about the Survivors' Declaration’s principles, reinforcing that Holocaust remembrance is a shared societal obligation extending beyond Germany.

The statement collectively urged action beyond just remembrance, calling for the protection of human dignity and human rights to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities. This united front of prominent German corporations marks a powerful commitment to both honoring history and fostering a society resilient against discrimination and hatred.