On February 16, 2000 (January 12, 2000 in the lunar calendar), German President apologized for the Nazi Holocaust and emphasized the need to educate young people to learn historical lessons. On February 16, 2000, German President Johannes Rau delivered a speech to the Israeli Knesset, apologizing for the Holocaust atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during World War II and emphasizing that the younger generation should be taught to remember the lessons of history. Rau said that in order for future generations of the German people to live in harmony with future generations of the Israeli people, he apologized on behalf of Germany, himself and his generation for everything Germany had done in the past and asked for forgiveness. He said he would bow his head and plead guilty in front of millions of victims of the massacre. Rau emphasized that it is important to strengthen the education of Germany's younger generation so that they can always remember Germany's glorious past. Germany held a groundbreaking ceremony for a Holocaust memorial in the capital Berlin last month, demonstrating the sincere efforts of the German people to remember the lessons of history.