Margot Friedländer, a prominent Holocaust survivor and witness to Nazi persecution, passed away at the age of 103 in her native Berlin, as announced by the Margot Friedländer Foundation. Her death, which occurred during the week of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II, marks the loss of one of Germany’s most significant voices in contemporary history.
Born Margot Bendheim on November 5, 1921, in Berlin, she was raised in a Jewish family of button makers. Her father, Artur Bendheim, had served in World War I and was decorated for his service. Initially, he believed that the Nazis' rise to power would not affect them, insisting, "they don’t mean us; we’re Germans." However, the harsh realities of the regime soon became apparent.
Friedländer's life took a tragic turn after her parents divorced in 1937. She, along with her mother and younger brother, moved in with her grandparents. By 1941, they were forced into a so-called “Jewish apartment,” and Friedländer was compelled to work nights at a metal factory. In January 1943, as her family planned to flee Berlin, she returned home to find her brother Ralph had been taken away by the Gestapo. A neighbor informed her that her mother had chosen to join him, leaving behind a poignant message: "Try to make your life," which later became the title of her autobiography.
In a desperate bid for survival, Friedländer went into hiding, removing the yellow star that Jews were required to wear and dyeing her hair red, believing it would help her blend in. Over the next 15 months, she was sheltered by 16 people until she was caught in April 1944 during an identity check after an air raid. At that moment, she decided to reveal her Jewish identity, stating, "The running and hiding was over." She felt a profound guilt for not knowing her family's fate, believing that had she gone with them, she might have shared their fate.
Friedländer was sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in June 1944. By spring 1945, she witnessed the arrival of skeletal prisoners who had been forced onto death marches from Auschwitz. It was at this moment that she understood she would never see her mother and brother again, both of whom were killed at Auschwitz. Her father had fled to Belgium in 1939 and was later deported to Auschwitz in 1942, where he also perished.
After the camp's liberation, Friedländer married Adolf Friedländer, an acquaintance from Berlin whom she had met again at Theresienstadt. The couple immigrated to New York in 1946 after spending months in a displaced persons camp. They became U.S. citizens, and Margot worked as a tailor and later ran a travel agency. Adolf passed away in 1997 at the age of 87.
Friedländer returned to Germany for the first time in 2003, receiving a warm welcome at Berlin’s City Hall alongside other survivors. She eventually moved back permanently in 2010, dedicating her later years to sharing her story with students and the public. She received numerous honors for her contributions to Holocaust remembrance, including Germany’s highest decoration, the Order of Merit, and being named a citizen of honor of Berlin in 2018.
During an event at Berlin's Jewish Museum in 2018, she expressed her motivation, saying, "What I do gives me my strength and probably also my energy, because I speak for those who can no longer speak." She emphasized the importance of remembrance, stating, "I would like you to be the witnesses we can’t be for much longer."
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences following Friedländer's passing, acknowledging her remarkable gift of reconciliation despite the suffering she endured. "We cannot be grateful enough for her efforts," he remarked, highlighting her role in educating future generations about the Holocaust.
Friedländer's legacy is particularly poignant in light of recent reports indicating that more than 200,000 Jewish survivors are still alive, but 70% of them are expected to pass within the next decade. Her life and testimony serve as a vital reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving its memory.
As tributes pour in from around the world, it is clear that Margot Friedländer's voice will continue to resonate through those she inspired and educated. Her unwavering commitment to sharing her experiences and advocating for humanity will remain a beacon of hope in the ongoing fight against hatred and intolerance.
