THe meaning of the title "No News From Auschwitz"

     No News From Auschwitz was an article written by A. M. Rosenthal, talking about his experiences of visiting Auschwitz, one of, if not, the most famous extermination camp, that was used to kill Jews during the Holocaust. However, I'd like to talk about the purpose and implied meanings of his article's title "No News form Auschwitz." The question, "Why did Rosenthal write an article about something with no news?" is a question that will inevitably run through the readers' minds. However, if you read the text, and fully comprehend Rosenthal's opinions, then it is very clear to see that the title, "No News From Auschwitz" reflects the meaning of his article very well. 

     Throughout the whole article, there is clear evidence that Rosenthal wants the world to remember the Holocaust's horrors and terrors as it actually happened. This stance can be seen in many of the things he says. 

     "For every visitor there is one particular bit of horror that he knows he will never forget. For some it is seeing the rebuilt gas chamber at Oswiecim and being told that this is the “small one.” For others it is the fact that at Brzizinka, in the ruins of the gas chambers and the Crematoria the Germans blew up when they retreated, there were daisies growing." (412 Rosenthal)

     Through this quote we can see that shying away from the horrors of the Holocaust and denying the facts, is what Rosenthal fears the most and thinks is the most terrible thing that could possibly happen. 

     Now that we've understood Rosenthal's opinion, interpreting the meaning of the title is very easy. What Rosenthal means by "No news" means that he has nothing new to report about the horrors of the Holocaust.  Instead, he is reporting his experiences of going to Auschwitz to remind the readers once again of the horrors of the Holocaust and to send the message, that denying the terrors of the Holocaust would be the most terrible thing people could do. One of Rosenthal’s quotes in his article summarizes my interpretations very clearly.

            “There is merely the compulsion to write something about it, a compulsion that grows out of a restless feeling that to have visited Auschwitz and then turned away without having said or written anything would somehow be a most grievous act of discourtesy to those who died here.” (Rosenthal 412)

This article belongs in the Op-ed category of the Opinion Section of the New York Times. Op-Ed stands for “Opposite of the Editorial Page” and it is a newspaper article that openly expresses the writer’s opinions. This writer doesn’t have to be affiliated with the editorial board of the New York Times. Rosenthal had retired from working at the New York Times when he had written this article, and that’s why his article, which contained opinion in it, was included in the Op-ed section of the newspaper.