Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, known as the stepsister of Anne Frank and a dedicated advocate for Holocaust education, has passed away at the age of 96 in London, where she resided. The Anne Frank Trust UK, where Schloss served as honorary president, confirmed her death on Saturday.
King Charles expressed his honor in knowing Schloss, who co-established a charitable trust aimed at combating prejudice among young individuals. He praised her for her lifelong commitment to promoting kindness, courage, understanding, and resilience, despite enduring unimaginable horrors during her youth.
Born Eva Geiringer in 1929 in Vienna, Schloss and her family sought refuge in Amsterdam following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. She developed a close friendship with Anne Frank, a fellow Jewish girl, whose diary later became a renowned testimony of the Holocaust.
Similar to the Franks, Schloss’s family endured two years in hiding to evade capture after the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, they were eventually betrayed, captured, and sent to Auschwitz. Schloss and her mother, Fritzi, managed to survive until the liberation of the camp by Soviet forces in 1945. Tragically, her father, Erich, and brother Heinz perished in Auschwitz.
Following the war, Schloss relocated to Britain, where she married Zvi Schloss, a German Jewish refugee, and settled in London. In a unique twist of fate, her mother later married Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, who was the sole survivor of his immediate family. Anne Frank, sadly, succumbed to typhus at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15, just months before the war’s end.
Initially reticent about sharing her wartime experiences due to the trauma she endured, Schloss later emerged as a vocal advocate for Holocaust education. Her transformative journey began in 1986 after speaking at the opening of an Anne Frank exhibition in London, leading her to dedicate herself to educating future generations about the horrors of the Nazi genocide.
In her later years, Schloss continued her advocacy work, traveling to various locations to spread awareness and combat Holocaust denial. She emphasized the importance of education in fostering respect for diversity and unity among all races and religions.
Remembered by her family as a remarkable Auschwitz survivor and a tireless educator, Schloss leaves behind a legacy of remembrance, understanding, and peace through her extensive body of work. Her impact is expected to endure through the books, films, and resources she has left behind. Survived by her three daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Schloss’s dedication to Holocaust education and advocacy will continue to inspire future generations.