Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, known for her advocacy against Holocaust atrocities and being the stepsister of Anne Frank, has passed away at the age of 96. The Anne Frank Trust UK, where she served as honorary president, confirmed her death in London over the weekend.
King Charles expressed his admiration for Schloss, acknowledging her dedication to combatting prejudice and founding a charitable trust to empower youth. Born as Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, she fled with her family to Amsterdam following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. Schloss formed a close friendship with Anne Frank, the author of the renowned Holocaust diary.
Similar to the Frank family, Schloss and her family sought refuge in hiding to evade Nazi capture in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, they were eventually discovered, apprehended, and sent to Auschwitz. Despite the tragic loss of her father and brother in the camp, Schloss and her mother, Fritzi, managed to survive until the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet forces in 1945.
Following the war, Schloss relocated to Britain, where she married Zvi Schloss, a German Jewish refugee. Notably, her mother later married Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father. Otto Frank was the sole survivor of his immediate family, as Anne perished in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15 from typhus shortly before the war concluded.
Initially reluctant to discuss her wartime ordeals, Schloss eventually became a fervent advocate for Holocaust education after participating in an Anne Frank exhibition in London in 1986. She dedicated herself to sharing her story in schools, prisons, and international forums, as well as through written works like “Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.”
Even in her later years, Schloss remained committed to her mission, engaging in various initiatives to combat Holocaust denial and promote tolerance and understanding. Her family remembered her as an extraordinary individual, emphasizing her enduring legacy as an Auschwitz survivor, Holocaust educator, and advocate for remembrance and peace.
Eva Schloss is survived by her three daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, following the passing of her husband, Zvi Schloss, in 2016. Her family expressed hope that her impactful work and teachings would continue to inspire future generations.
