103-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Margot Friedlaender Passes Away
Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer passes away
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Holocaust survivor extraordinaire, Margot Friedlaender, has passed away at the spry age of 103. The Margot Friedlaender Foundation in Berlin disclosed the news, announcing the cancellation of the ceremony to award her with Germany's Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, initially scheduled for this Friday.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his grief: "Margot Friedlaender's death has saddened me deeply. Despite the horrific acts against her as a young girl by the Germans, she exemplified reconciliation. We'll never be able to express enough gratitude for her acts of grace. Her legacy serves as a chilling reminder and a steadfast commitment, especially amidst the present challenges to democracy and the open display of antisemitism. It is our moral obligation to never abandon the Jewish community again." Steinmeier concluded with respect, "We bow to Margot Friedlaender, this remarkable German Jew from Berlin."
In the Footsteps of Margot: A Crusader for Remembrance
Left Germany after years living in New York, Friedlaender, the honorary citizen of Berlin, made fighting forgetting, especially among younger generations, her mission. Her epic journey was chronicled in a documentary and a poignant memoir, "Try to Make Your Life" — a message imparted by her mother before her demise.
With recognition galore and numerous accolades, the face of steadfast resilience even received a visit from US President Joe Biden at Schloss Bellevue.
From Darkness to Light: The Struggle of a survivor
The story of Friedlaender unfolds in the inky depths of the Holocaust. Born to a Jewish family in 1921, she recounted a harrowing experience where she narrowly escaped death but lost her mother and brother in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The Soviet troops' liberation of Auschwitz marked Friedlaender's rescue, and despite her intimate encounters with the worst of humanity, she espoused a philosophy of love: "Hate is foreign to me."
Friedlaender faced discrimination in her homeland, but despite the odds, she returned to Germany at nearly 88 after the passing of her husband.
A Tireless Champion Against Intolerance
Margot Friedlaender's story reached far and wide, challenging the narratives of hate and violence. Her impact was palpable in German politics and culture, as her message resonated with individuals of all ages, cultures, and walks of life. A school project prize and a Holocaust and contemporary culture remembrance prize bears her name. In 2018, Berlin bestowed the title of honorary citizen upon her.
In the fall of 2023, ZDF dedicated a docudrama to her 85 years after the Night of Broken Glass of 1938. Despite her advanced years, Friedlaender remained active and already at the age of 102 was a guest of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In April 2025, she delivered the keynote speech at the Federal Press Ball at the Brandenburg Gate.
The legacy of Margot Friedlaender extends beyond borders, serving as an inspiring tale of resilience in the face of adversity and a testament to the power of compassion.
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, given Margot Friedlaender's close association with such exposures during her time in the camps.
- Despite her passing, Margot Friedlaender's influence continues to reverberate in German politics and culture, with a school project prize and a Holocaust and contemporary culture remembrance prize bearing her name.
- Margot Friedlaender's memoir, "Try to Make Your Life," was a poignant account of her experiences, a message she imparted to future generations to combat forgetting.
- Margot Friedlaender's story of resilience in the face of adversity serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of Nazism and the Holocaust, emphasizing the need for continued remembrance and the rejection of intolerance.
