BERLIN — Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor who endured the Theresienstadt concentration camp and later became a prominent figure in recounting the horrors of Nazi atrocities, passed away on Friday at the age of 103.
The Margot Friedländer Foundation in Berlin announced her passing on its website, but specifics on the location and cause of her death have not been disclosed.
Her death comes around the time marking the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender, bringing a solemn reminder of the events during World War II.
Friedländer spent the majority of her life in the United States before returning to Berlin in her 80s. Germany honored her with its highest decoration and a statue at Berlin’s City Hall, recognizing her courage and dedication in sharing her survival story.
“What I do gives me my strength and probably also my energy, because I speak for those who can no longer speak,” Friedländer remarked during a 2018 event at Berlin’s Jewish Museum. She emphasized her commitment to speak not only for the 6 million Jews who perished but also for all innocent people who suffered.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier extended his condolences, noting how Friedländer offered Germany reconciliation despite the unfathomable hardships she faced. He expressed deep gratitude for her contributions to society.
A recent report indicates that more than 200,000 Jewish survivors remain alive today, though projections suggest 70% of them will not live beyond the next decade.
Friedländer was born Margot Bendheim on November 5, 1921. Her father, Artur Bendheim, a World War I veteran, had initially believed that Nazis would spare them, saying, “they don’t mean us; We’re Germans.” Unfortunately, such sentiments changed when it was too late.
Aspiring to design clothes, Friedländer began a tailoring apprenticeship. Following her parents’ 1937 divorce, her family moved in with her grandparents. By 1941, they were forced into a “Jewish apartment,” and Friedländer worked night shifts in a metal factory.
In January 1943, as the family was planning to escape from Berlin, her brother Ralph was taken by the Gestapo, and her mother chose to accompany him. Her mother’s final message, “Try to make your life,” would later title Friedländer’s autobiography.
Seeking refuge, Friedländer evaded capture for 15 months with assistance from 16 individuals, altering her appearance to avoid detection. However, in April 1944, she was captured after an identity check. Choosing to reveal her Jewish identity, she accepted her fate.
Upon arriving at the congested Theresienstadt camp in June 1944, Friedländer witnessed the arrival of emaciated prisoners from Auschwitz. She realized she would never reunite with her mother and brother, both killed in Auschwitz, like her father who was imprisoned and ultimately murdered in the same camp.
After the liberation of Theresienstadt camp, Friedländer married Adolf Friedländer, whom she had known from Berlin. Once in the United States, they established a life as citizens while Friedländer resumed her profession as a tailor and later navigated the travel industry.
Returning to Germany in 2003, Friedländer was met with recognition at Berlin’s City Hall. By 2010, she moved back permanently to the city, sharing her experiences with younger generations. Honored with numerous accolades, including the Order of Merit, she was named a citizen of honor in Berlin in 2018.
Addressing an audience that year, she stated, “I would like you to be the witnesses we can’t be for much longer,” urging others to carry the torch of remembrance as the number of Holocaust survivors continues to dwindle.