Final rest for Holocaust survivor: Margot Karp buried in Dresden

Final rest for Holocaust survivor: Margot Karp buried in Dresden

An emotional step for the Jewish community in Dresden: On Thursday, Margot Karp, née Neuding, will receive a final resting place in the New Israelite Cemetery, almost three years after her death. Margot Karp, who died in 2022 at the age of 102, was an impressive woman whose life story had many ups and downs. Born in Dresden in 1920 into a Jewish family, she experienced the tragic effects of National Socialism at a young age. Her mother committed suicide in 1937, perhaps due to the National Socialist repression, and a year later she was deported to Poland along with her father. Her escape to England in 1939 initially brought Margot to safety, but the memories of her childhood in Germany remained.

She was actively involved in post-war Germany and worked, among other things, for the US Army. Her role as a translator at the Nuremberg Trials testifies to her courage and determination to bring the truth to light. In 1948 she emigrated to the USA with her husband Martin, where she began a successful career, including at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

A wish fulfilled

The Dresden Jewish Community granted Margot Karp's express wish to be buried next to her mother. This decision is not only a fulfillment of her last wish, but also a sign of respect for her eventful life story. Margot Karp will also be remembered in other places: On Friday, stumbling blocks will be laid in front of the last freely chosen home of the Neuding family in Dresden-Neustadt, which commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime.

There are currently a total of 371 stumbling blocks in Dresden that commemorate people who were persecuted during National Socialist rule. Stumbling blocks, which were initiated by the artist Gunter Demnig, are an important symbol: They are a reminder of individual fates and can be found in over 1,100 locations in 17 European countries. More than 45,000 stumbling blocks have been laid across Europe, with each individual stone anchored at the last known address of a Holocaust victim. The plaques contain personal information such as names, dates of birth and deportation dates, giving the victims a face and a story.

A lasting legacy

The Stolpersteine ​​project has established itself as the largest Holocaust memorial in the world and is intended to encourage people to pause and reflect on the history of persecution. Margot Karp is not only a reminder of the immense suffering of Holocaust survivors, but also a part of history that we should never forget. Their story will be passed on in Dresden and beyond so that future generations can learn from the past.

Even after her death, the loss of Margot Karp remains a reminder of the horrors that people can inflict on one another and of the need to work for peaceful and respectful coexistence. Remembrance is not only a duty, but also a way of honoring those who are no longer with us.