Margot Friedländer: The Oldest Holocaust Survivor Passes Away at 103

Margot Friedländer, a prominent Holocaust survivor and advocate for remembrance, passed away on Friday (09.05.2025) at the age of 103. After decades in New York as an immigrant, she returned to Germany to dedicate her life to educating young people about Nazi crimes. Born into a Jewish family in Berlin in 1921, Margot endured hiding in Berlin before being transferred to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1944. Her mother and brother were killed in Auschwitz, but Margot survived, eventually moving to the U.S. In 2010, at 88, she returned to Germany, focusing on informing younger generations through educational programs bearing her name. Her famous words, ‘Be human,’ resonated globally. Friedländer frequently visited schools, warning against the rise of far-right ideologies and anti-Semitism. Despite initial hesitations, she embraced her mission to remind society of humanity’s shared values. Her legacy lives on with honors and awards recognizing her efforts in reconciliation and peace.