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Holocaust Remembrance Advocate in Germany: Margot Friedlaender

GERMANY - Margot Friedlaender, a Holocaust survivor, aged 103, gained acclaim at home and internationally for her relentless endeavors promoting reconciliation and comprehension.

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GERMANY - Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlaender, aged 103, passed away; she was celebrated both...
GERMANY - Holocaust survivor Margot Friedlaender, aged 103, passed away; she was celebrated both domestically and internationally for her relentless pursuit of reconciliation and enlightenment.

Holocaust Remembrance Advocate in Germany: Margot Friedlaender

Germany Loses a Beacon of Hope: Holocaust Survivor Margot Friedlaender Passes Away at 103

Berlin - Margot Friedlaender, a Holocaust survivor and an icon of reconciliation, has passed away at the age of 103. Born and raised in Berlin, her family, like hundreds of thousands of others, became victims of the Nazi regime.

Friedlaender's family attended to the button-making business, but they witnessed the rise of Hitler and the infamous Kristallnacht pogroms against Jewish businesses in 1938. Despite the unrest, they chose to remain in Berlin.

Friedlaender was 21 in 1943, when the Gestapo came for her 17-year-old brother, Ralph. She remembered the stranger by the entrance to their building, the Jewish Star of David peeking out, and the amber necklace her mother left behind. The necklace, along with her mother's words, "Try to make your life," stayed with Friedlaender.

Her brother, mother, and father all met a tragically unfortunate fate at Auschwitz. Friedlaender, on the other hand, lived underground, adopted mysterious aliases, and underwent nasal surgery to avoid detection.

Fate brought Friedlaender together with Adolf Friedlaender, a fellow Berliner from the Jewish community. They fell in love after the liberation of Theresienstadt and moved to the US, settling in New York. Adolf soon passed away, prompting Friedlaender to enroll in a memoir writing course at the 92nd Street Y, seeking solace.

There, she shared her memories with German producer Thomas Halaczinsky, who wanted to create a documentary about her experiences. Friedlaender returned to Germany nearly 60 years after her departure, which her husband had never been willing to consider. The documentary and her autobiography, reminiscent of her mother's words, followed.

In her late 80s, Freidlaender moved permanently to Berlin, regaining her German citizenship. From then on, she dedicated herself to educating young minds about the dangers of prejudice and hatred.

"Don't look at what separates you. Look at what unites you. Be human," she would often say.

Yet, she didn't harbor bitter feelings against those responsible for her suffering, urging instead for empathy and vigilance. "Stay careful, watch that something like that never happens again. Not for me, but for yourselves," she emphasized.

Friedlaender's efforts were widely recognized and acknowledged by political leaders. Until her dying day, she continued advocating for human rights, instilling hope and promoting understanding.

The evergreen spirit of Margot Friedlaender left a significant impact on millions, serving as a vital reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and healing.

  1. Margot Friedlaender, a Holocaust survivor who passed away at the age of 103, shared her recollections with German producer Thomas Halaczinsky, an illustrator of her experiences, for a documentary.
  2. Despite ending up at Auschwitz, which tragically claimed the lives of her family, Margot Friedlaander found solace in education and self-development, enrolling in a memoir writing course after the death of her husband.
  3. An icon of reconciliation, Margot Friedlaender dedicated herself to learning and educating young minds, often stressing the importance of empathy and understanding, not for her sake, but to prevent history from repeating itself.

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