Berlin memorial ceremony for Margot Friedländer: A legacy of remembering

Berlin memorial ceremony for Margot Friedländer: A legacy of remembering

On July 9, 2025, a moving memorial service took place in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall in honor of Margot Friedländer, who died on May 9, 2025 at the age of 103. The event was organized by the Margot Friedländer Foundation named after her and attracted numerous guests who paid tribute to her life's work. In the memorial speech, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the feeling of emptiness left by Friedländer's death and its ongoing message against forgetting. Steinmeier emphasized how important it is to keep Friedländer's legacy alive for future generations, especially in times when anti-Semitism is on the rise again. The reports about this daily news.

Friedländer was one of the best-known contemporary witnesses to the Nazi persecution of Jews and survived deportation to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. According to eyewitness accounts, she went into hiding but was betrayed and witnessed the atrocities of the Nazis, who murdered her family, including her brother Ralph and her mother Auguste. After the Second World War, she emigrated to the USA, but returned to Berlin at the age of 88 to campaign for humanity, democracy and against forgetting the Nazi crimes. Her foundation, founded in 2023 and under the patronage of Steinmeier, plans to continue Friedländer's vision of the Enlightenment, such as the ZDF reported.

Appreciation and warnings

Steinmeier accompanied his speech with an emotional homage to Friedländer, who was described as a person with great charisma and kindness. Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), also delivered greetings and conveyed the importance of remembrance and reconciliation. Hèdi Bouden, who received the Margot Friedländer Personality Prize 2024, also appeared at the memorial event and spoke about Friedländer's legacy. He emphasized the importance of passing on Friedländer's mission to younger generations in order to promote the values ​​of humanity and tolerance.

The memorial service was broadcast live by rbb and thus reached a wide audience. At a time when voices questioning the lessons of history are increasingly being raised, it is essential to reflect on the stories of survivors. Margot Friedländer often called it her life's work to issue warnings about increasing anti-Semitism and right-wing extremism. “We must not forget” was one of their central messages, which was also underlined by those present such as the Anti-Semitism Commissioner Felix Klein and the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster.

A legacy of memory

Friedländer has received numerous awards for her commitment over the years. Among other things, she was honored with the Federal Cross of Merit and made an honorary citizen by the city of Berlin. Her story is not only a testament to the horrors of the Holocaust, but also a call for vigilance against the repetition of injustices. During the commemoration it was agreed that it is society's responsibility to stand up for peace and humanity and to follow Margot Friedländer's words into action.

In memory of the still living contemporary witnesses, such as Marian Turski, who previously spoke on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, it is important to see that such commemorative events not only serve to mourn, but are also an active reminder to fight for the values ​​of democracy and human rights, especially in challenging times.

The memorial event for Margot Friedländer was therefore more than a commemoration of a remarkable woman; it was an urgent appeal to continue the fight against oblivion and for a fairer society.