Eva Schloss, Holocaust Survivor and Stepsister of Anne Frank, Passes Away at 96

Devoted Parents and the Power of Education Against Hate

Eva Schloss, a survivor of Auschwitz and the stepsister of Anne Frank, passed away at the age of 96, as announced by her foundation. Schloss, who spent decades educating the public about the Holocaust, died on Saturday in London, where she had lived. The Anne Frank Trust UK, of which she was an honorary president, shared the sad news.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom expressed that he was "privileged and proud" to have known Schloss, who co-founded a charitable trust aimed at helping young people combat prejudice. "The horrors she endured as a young girl are beyond comprehension, yet she dedicated the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding, and resilience through her tireless work in Holocaust education," the King stated.

Eva, born Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, fled with her family to Amsterdam after Nazi Germany annexed Austria. There, she became friends with Anne Frank, and her family was forced to hide for two years to avoid capture. They were betrayed and sent to the Auschwitz extermination camp, where Schloss and her mother survived until the camp's liberation by Soviet troops in 1945. Tragically, her father and brother perished in Auschwitz.

After the war, Eva moved to the United Kingdom, married a German Jewish refugee, and settled in London. She did not publicly speak about her experiences for decades but decided to share her story after opening an exhibition dedicated to Anne Frank in 1986. She began to speak in schools, prisons, and at international conferences, continuing her educational campaign for youth into the 1990s. “We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as 'the other,'” Schloss stated in 2024. Eva Schloss leaves behind three daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.