Vogue Germany Features 102-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor on Cover

Margot Friedländer, a 102-year-old Holocaust survivor, has become the cover star of Vogue Germany's July/August issue, marking a poignant celebration of love and humanity. Her appearance on the cover is not only a tribute to her incredible life journey but also a powerful statement on the importance of remembering the past.

Vogue Germany's head of editorial content, Kerstin Weng, expressed deep admiration for Friedländer, highlighting her warmth, directness, and relentless commitment to mutual respect. "She is such a beautiful soul and remarkable woman," Weng noted, emphasizing the honor it is to feature Friedländer on the magazine's collector’s issue.

Born Anni Margot Bendheim in Berlin in 1921, Friedländer has dedicated much of her life to educating young people about the Holocaust. For over a decade, she has visited schools, sharing her harrowing experiences and the importance of tolerance. “I know that what I do is important. It is needed,” she told Vogue Germany. “I can even speak for those who didn’t make it. My word is needed, I have an obligation.”

Friedländer, the sole survivor of her family, has also established the Margot Friedländer Foundation to support Holocaust remembrance and promote respect. In 2014, the Margot Friedländer Award was introduced to encourage young people to engage in Holocaust remembrance and combat racism and antisemitism.

Friedländer’s story is one of survival against unimaginable odds. At just 12 years old, she witnessed the rise of Adolf Hitler. By 21, she was left alone after her mother and younger brother were taken by the Nazis. Her family was eventually murdered at Auschwitz, but her mother's last words to her, “try to make a life,” became the title of her memoir and a guiding principle in her life.

During the war, Friedländer hid with a Christian family, altering her appearance to avoid detection. Despite her efforts, she was captured and deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp, where she narrowly escaped death. After the war, she moved to New York with her husband, living there for 64 years before returning to Berlin in 2010. In 2018, she was honored as an honorary citizen of Berlin.

The World Jewish Congress expressed its excitement over Friedländer’s Vogue cover, praising her as one of Germany’s most vocal and well-known Holocaust survivors. Her unwavering advocacy for Holocaust education and the values of tolerance and humanity continues to inspire many.

In her interview with Vogue Germany, Friedländer addressed the ongoing issues of antisemitism and global conflicts, stressing the importance of recognizing our shared humanity. “I tell people all the time: we are the same. There is no Christian, Muslim, or Jewish blood. There is only human blood,” she said. Her message is simple yet profound: “Be human. I recognize everyone. To me, you are all the same. There is something good in every person and you should focus on that.”

Friedländer's story is not just a testament to her strength and perseverance but a call to action for all of us to uphold the values of tolerance and respect. Share this inspiring story and subscribe to our newsletter for more incredible tales of resilience and hope.