A Holocaust Survivor, Margot Friedländer, Passes Away at 103
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer passes away
Social Media — Share — Email — Print — Copy Link — Family Torn Apart, Survivor Stands Strong: Margot Friedländer
The well-known Holocaust eyewitness, Margot Friedländer, has left us at the ripe age of 103. The Margot Friedländer Foundation in Berlin announced her demise, and she was set to receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany this Friday, a ceremony which has been postponed at her request.
Germany's Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, mourned Friedländer's departure, stating, "The news of Margot Friedländer's death strikes me deeply. Though the Germans inflicted unimaginable horrors upon her as a young lady, she gifted our nation reconciliation. We can never fully repay this debt. Her legacy serves as a lesson and a responsibility, especially given today's political climate and visible anti-Semitism, to ensure we never marginalize the Jewish community in Germany again." Steinmeier further added, "We bow our heads in respect to Margot Friedländer, this extraordinary German Jew from Berlin."
Politics —"Bear Witness" Friedländer's Legacy
Born in 1921, to a Jewish family, Friedländer lost her mother and brother during the Holocaust. However, she managed to evade capture, thanks to the help of numerous individuals. Yet, she was later caught and sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Despite countless hardships, Friedländer persevered, existing as the sole survivor of her immediate family.
In later years, Friedländer left her home in New York to return to Berlin, her hometown. Once back, she dedicated herself to eradicating prejudice and combating anti-Semitism, especially among the younger generation.
Friedländer's story garnered attention through a documentary film and her memoirs, "Try to Make Your Life." Her tireless efforts to spread awareness led her to receive numerous awards and recognition, including a visit from US President Joe Biden at Schloss Bellevue.
Politics —"Death and Larvae" Liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp
When Soviet soldiers liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, Friedländer experienced firsthand the horrors of war. In her later life, she became a cherished, spirited elder who shared her powerful stories with others. In acknowledgment of her work, a prize for school projects on the Holocaust and contemporary remembrance culture bears her name. Berlin honored Friedländer by making her an honorary citizen in June 2018, at the age of 96. An interview book and a photo book were published in celebration of her 100th birthday.
The ZDF dedicated a docudrama to Friedländer in the fall of 2023, 85 years after the Kristallnacht pogrom of 1938. Even at the age of 102, she was a guest of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In April 2025, she spoke at the Federal Press Ball at the Brandenburg Gate.
"I have looked into the abyss," Friedländer once said, recalling the Nazi death camps. Her voice was one of empowerment and resilience, urging future generations to remember history and uphold democracy.
Sources: ntv.de, mli/dpa
- Holocaust
- Nazism
- Remembrance
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the long life and notable experiences of Margot Friedländer, who went through the horrors of the Holocaust.
- Margot Friedlaënder, the Holocaust survivor who has passed away at the age of 103, received the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany as a recognition for her invaluable contributions in eradicating prejudice and combating anti-Semitism, setting a powerful example in contemporary German politics.
- In addition to her memoirs, "Try to Make Your Life," Margot Friedlaënder's compelling story was documented in a film and a book, becoming a powerful tool for education and the fight against anti-Semitism, making general news headlines.
- Despite her critical role in bearing witness to the days of the Holocaust, Margot Friedlaënder survived the Nazi death camps and lived to share her story with the world, acting as a reminder of the atrocities committed under Nazism, inspiring ongoing remembrance and the importance of upholding democracy.
