January 27, 2023

January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day

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Mesothelioma

There are a number of different Holocaust Memorial Days to remember the victims of the Holocaust. One of these days is January 27th, which is recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The holiday is meant to commemorate victims of the Holocaust, including over 6 million Jewish people and countless other members of minority groups who were murdered between 1933 and 1945 under Hitler’s reign. January 27th was chosen because it was on this day in 1945 that Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated.

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The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the mass-killing or genocide of Jewish individuals during World War II. Under Hitler, Nazi Germany murdered two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population. While many Jewish people perished during the war, those that survived have carried the story of the Holocaust with them. Notable survivors include: Author, Elie Wiesel; Movie Director, Roman Polanski; and Psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl.

For one survivor of the Holocaust, Paul Kraus, the Holocaust was only the beginning of his survival story. During World War II, Paul’s mother was shipped off to Auschwitz because she was a Hungarian Jew. On the way, her train was derailed due to Allied bombing, so she was sent to Vienhofen forced-labor camp instead. In 1944, Paul was born on the grounds of the camp. At just 1 year old, his mother escaped Vienhofen and the two of them survived a cross-country trek as they fled to Budapest. At the end of World War II, his family found their way to a permanent home in Australia.

As a college student in Australia, Kraus worked adjacent to an asbestos factory. Little did he know, he was being exposed to asbestos dust each day as he attended work. In 1997, Paul was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Like many patients with mesothelioma, Paul’s doctors believed his cancer was terminal and estimated he only had a few weeks to live. Today, in 2022, Paul is believed to be one of the longest-lived mesothelioma survivors.

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Paul’s resilience has made him one of the most well-known international advocates for mesothelioma patients. In the 25+ years since his diagnosis, he has worked as an author and an educator, inspiring cancer patients and creating guides to living with mesothelioma.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, help starts here. If you are interested in legal help, you can fill out our free case evaluation or call our office.