Margot Friedländer, one of the last living survivors of the Holocaust and a powerful advocate for remembrance and education, has died at the age of 103. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable life defined by survival, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that the horrors of Nazi Germany are never forgotten.
Born in Berlin in 1921, Friedländer endured the unimaginable loss of her parents and younger brother, who were murdered in Nazi death camps. She survived the Holocaust by going into hiding after her family was deported. Eventually captured in 1944, she was sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, where she remained until the camp was liberated.
Friedländer emigrated to the United States after the war, but in a powerful act of reconciliation and remembrance, she returned to Berlin in 2010—at the age of 88—to share her story with German youth and the wider world. Her memoir, Try to Make Your Life, became a cornerstone of Holocaust education efforts in Germany.
Over the past decade, she traveled extensively, speaking to students, politicians, and communities, urging them to “remember the past to shape the future.” Her courage and clarity inspired generations, especially as antisemitism and extremism have seen a resurgence across Europe.
In recognition of her lifetime of advocacy, Friedländer received numerous honors, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and honorary citizenship of Berlin.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a statement, called her “a moral compass for our country,” praising her “unshakable humanity and dedication to truth.” Jewish leaders, educators, and historians around the world have also expressed deep sorrow at her passing, hailing her as a living testament to history who never stopped fighting for justice and remembrance.
Margot Friedländer’s death is not just the loss of a survivor, but the passing of a witness—a voice that endured genocide, exile, and grief, and turned that pain into education, empathy, and resolve.
As the world mourns her passing, many are reflecting on her message to future generations: “Do not hate. Hate destroyed my family.” Her legacy endures in classrooms, museums, and hearts around the globe.
Sourcce :Swifteradio.com
