"Be Human": The Lasting Legacy of Holocaust Survivor, Margot Friedlaender
Message of Resilience Permanently Embodied by Margot Friedländer
Margot Friedlaender, a frail centenarian, stood tall and resilient, tirelessly speaking about her harrowing experiences in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Even at over 100, she shared her story in classrooms and at memorial events, her message simple but profound: "Be human." This small, determined woman passed away at the age of 103, but her impact remains.
Political Pioneer As a Holocaust survivor, Margot Friedlaender was honored numerous times for her unwavering commitment to human unity. Her extraordinary strength was celebrated with the Federal Cross of Merit twice, in 2011 and 2023, and she received the inaugural "Special Prize of the International Prize of the Westphalian Peace" in early April. Sadly, she declined the offer to receive the Grand Cross of the Federal Order of Merit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, choosing instead to put her energy into her vital work.
One of the Last Eyewitnesses The horrors of her family's persecution and extermination lingered in Margot's memory, etched as if it were yesterday. She was one of the last survivors, her own brother and mother murdered in the Auschwitz concentration camp. But Margot lived in the present, her voice a constant reminder against the rising tide of division and extremism in Germany.
Towards Renewed Humanity Born in Berlin as Bendheim, Margot was just 21 when she was deported to Theresienstadt. In her later years, she returned to her hometown, where she found a sympathetic audience for her powerful storytelling. Her apartment was filled with awards and honors, yet even in old age she yearned for more: good experiences with people.
The Margot Friedlaender Foundation, established shortly before her death in 2025, continues her legacy by encouraging individuals and groups to "defend democracy" and uphold the essence of humanity. The foundation offers a significant €25,000 prize to those who make significant strides in fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. With this award and her own unyielding spirit, Margot has left a powerful legacy that challenges us all to remember the past and strive for a better future.
References:_ _1. ntv.de, gut/dpa__ _2. The Margot Friedlaender Foundation_
- Margot Friedlaender's legendary story of survival in the Theresienstadt concentration camp echoes through her tireless advocacy for community policy promoting human unity and fighting against disenfranchisement.
- During her lifetime, Margot Friedlaender received numerous accolades, including the Federal Cross of Merit twice, the inaugural "Special Prize of the International Prize of the Westphalian Peace," and an offer for the Grand Cross of the Federal Order of Merit, all in recognition of her unwavering commitment to education-and-self-development, politics, and general news that uphold human rights.
- Despite being one of the last survivors of the Holocaust, with her own family members perishing in camps like Auschwitz, Margot Friedlaender challenged the rising tide of division and extremism in Germany through her powerful storytelling and advocacy for employment policy that ensures human dignity.
- In her later years, Margot Friedlaender continued to strive for a better future through her work in education-and-self-development, politics, and fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights, epitomizing the spirit of renewed humanity that her foundation seeks to cultivate.
