Memorial celebration for Margot Friedländer: Federal President Steinmeier honors contemporary witness

Memorial celebration for Margot Friedländer: Federal President Steinmeier honors contemporary witness

On July 9, 2025, an official commemoration for Margot Friedländer will take place in the Berlin Philharmonic, which died two months ago. Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor and highly valued contemporary witness, was 103 years old. She died on May 9 and was buried on May 15th in the Jewish Cemetery Weißensee, in an honorary grave next to her grandparents. Her family fell victim to the Nazi persecution and she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp before emigrating to the USA after the war. At the age of 88 she returned to her hometown of Berlin, where she was passionate about democracy and against the forgetting of the Nazi crimes.

The commemoration starts at 5:50 p.m. and is broadcast live by the RBB. In the central speech, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected, who is also the patron of the Margot Friedländer Foundation. In addition, a greeting is spoken by the ruling mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU). Long -time companions, friends and award winners of the price named after her and many young people with whom she was in contact with and whom she inspired them as contemporary witness. For safety reasons, participation in the commemoration is only possible for invited guests, with the dialogue with the younger generation being a central concern of Friedländer.

The legacy of a contemporary witness

Margot Friedländer was born on November 5, 1921 in Berlin. During the National Socialist rule, she hid, but was revealed and deported. The loss of her parents and brother was a traumatic experience that she added to her in her life's work as a contemporary witness. After the Second World War, she not only worked in educational work, but also actively campaigned for the processing of the National Socialist crimes to keep memory alive.

The foundation of the Margot Friedländer Foundation in 2023 illustrates its commitment to protect democratic values ​​and promote educational work in schools. The past was recognized in their funeral; She spoke of the importance of remembering and telling, not hate. The Jewish community describes them as a person full of humanity, warmth and compassion.

Today's commemoration will be an important event to honor Margot Friedländer's life and their tireless efforts against forgetting. As reports rbbb24, the celebration will not only offer a review of your life, but will also encourage future generations to deal with the story. freiten emphasizes that the commitment of Friedländer for the young generation can be seen as a kind of legacy that continues in the Margot Friedländer Foundation. The Berliner Zeitung also emphasizes how important it is to preserve and spread your heritage.