Eva Schloss, the Auschwitz survivor who dedicated her life to Holocaust education and was the stepsister of diarist Anne Frank, has died at the age of 96 in London, her foundation confirmed. Schloss was widely recognized for her tireless work promoting tolerance, understanding, and resilience among younger generations.

Legacy of Holocaust Education

Schloss served as honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust UK, an organization she co-founded to educate youth about the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and discrimination. She spent decades speaking in schools, prisons, and international conferences, sharing her firsthand experiences of the Holocaust to ensure that future generations remember its lessons.

In a statement, King Charles III of the United Kingdom praised Schloss:

“The horrors that she endured as a young woman are impossible to comprehend, and yet, she devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience.”

The European Jewish Congress described Schloss as a “powerful voice” for Holocaust education, expressing deep sadness at her passing.

Early Life and War Experiences

Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled with her family to Amsterdam after Nazi Germany annexed Austria. In the Netherlands, she became friends with Anne Frank, who would later document her experiences in the now-famous Diary of a Young Girl.

Like the Frank family, Schloss’s family spent two years in hiding to avoid Nazi capture, but they were eventually betrayed and deported to Auschwitz. Schloss survived the camp alongside her mother, Fritzi, while her father, Erich, and brother, Heinz, perished. She was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.

Life After the Holocaust

After World War II, Schloss moved to the United Kingdom, marrying German-Jewish refugee Zvi Schloss and settling in London. In 1953, her mother married Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, making Eva Anne’s stepsister. Anne Frank tragically died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at age 15, just months before the war’s end.

Schloss spoke publicly about her experiences only decades later, initially remaining silent due to trauma and grief. She said in 2004:

“I was silent for years, first because I wasn’t allowed to speak. Then, I repressed it. I was angry with the world.”

Her first public engagement came in 1986, at the opening of an Anne Frank exhibition in London, marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to Holocaust education. She authored several books, including Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank, recounting her personal journey and survival.

Lifelong Advocacy

Even into her 90s, Schloss continued to campaign against antisemitism, racism, and prejudice. In 2024, she emphasized the importance of remembering history:

“We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as ‘other’.”

She is survived by her three daughters, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy of education, resilience, and advocacy.