Holocaust Educator and Survivor, Eva Schloss, Passes Away at 96

Eva Schloss, a resilient Auschwitz survivor and a passionate advocate for Holocaust education, has died at the age of 96. Known as Anne Frank's stepsister, she dedicated much of her life to educating future generations about the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The organization where Schloss served as an honorary president confirmed her passing on a Saturday in London, her city of residence. Her family paid tribute to her as a phenomenal woman dedicated to teaching the world about remembrance, understanding, and peace.

They expressed hope that her legacy would live on through the vast array of books, films, and educational materials she contributed to over her lifetime.

Early Life and War Time Experiences

Born in 1929 as Eva Geiringer in Vienna, she and her family fled to Amsterdam following the Nazi annexation of Austria. It was there that she met Anne Frank, a girl her age whose diary would later become globally acclaimed.

The Geiringer family, like the Franks, went into hiding for two years to evade the Nazi regime after their occupation of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, they were eventually discovered, captured, and sent to Auschwitz.

In an interview in 2019, Schloss vividly recalled the harrowing conditions at the camp, describing packed spaces with minimal amenities, likening their treatment to that of wild animals.

While she and her mother, Fritzi, survived until liberation by the Soviet forces in 1945, her father Erich and brother Heinz didn't survive the camp.

Post-War Life and Advocacy

After the horrors of the Holocaust, Eva relocated to Britain and started a new chapter in London. She married Zvi Schloss, a fellow Jewish refugee who had fled Germany.

In 1953, her mother Fritzi wedded Otto Frank, making Eva Anne Frank's stepsister. Although Anne succumbed to typhus mere months before the war concluded, Otto was the sole survivor of Anne's immediate family.

For many years, Eva was silent about her wartime experiences, later attributing her reticence to trauma-induced isolation. It was not until 1986, when she spoke at an Anne Frank exhibit's opening in London, that she began her journey as an educator about the Holocaust.

She frequently spoke about the lessons of history, sharing that people should actively resist being passive observers during times of injustice, a stance she reiterated during various speaking engagements worldwide and in her book, "Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank."

Legacy and Recognition

Up until her 90s, Eva Schloss tirelessly campaigned against Holocaust denial. In 2019, she made headlines for addressing a group of teenagers in California after they were photographed making Nazi salutes.

Her influence extended to social media advocacy, including efforts to have Facebook remove content denying the Holocaust. Her tireless work emphasized the importance of remembrance and vigilance against prejudice in all its forms.

In remembrance of Schloss, Britain's King Charles III expressed his admiration, acknowledging her tremendous contribution to defeating hatred and prejudice while promoting understanding and resilience.

Eva is survived by her three daughters, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who carry forward her enduring legacy.