GERMANY - The Nazi regime murdered an estimated 1.1 million people, the vast majority of them Jewish, at Auschwitz-Birkenau. What did the chancellor say? Mrs Merkel was accompanied on her visit by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and a death camp survivor. She walked through the notorious "Arbeit macht frei" (work sets you free) gates at Auschwitz and then held a minute's silence at the so-called Black Wall, where thousands of prisoners were executed. She then moved to the Birkenau site where she gave her speech. "Remembering the crimes… is a responsibility which never ends. It belongs inseparably to our country," Mrs Merkel said. "To be aware of this responsibility is part of our national identity, our self-understanding as an enlightened and free society… a democracy." Germany continued to have "deep shame" for what happened in Auschwitz-Birkenau. "There are no words to express our sorrow," Mrs Merkel said. Major events are planned for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops on 27 January.