Holocaust Survivor Eva Schloss Passes Away at 96 Years Old as King Charles Pays Respects

The King has led tributes to the step-sister of Anne Frank and Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, who passed away at the age of 96.

"My wife and I are greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Eva Schloss," wrote the King in a message posted on social media.

A Statement from King Charles

He added, "The horrors that she endured as a teenager are difficult to fathom and yet she dedicated the rest of her life to fighting hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience."

An Existence Committed to Education

Mrs Schloss was the founding member and honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust, an organization where Queen Camilla serves as Royal Patron.

In the Second World War era, Mrs Schloss and her family were chased from their home in Austria. They existed as displaced persons in the Netherlands before being captured and sent to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp.

The Anne Frank Trust announced Mrs Schloss died in London on 3 January. "In her youth, Eva Schloss-Geiringer lived in Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's home," the trust noted.

Survival and Loss

When Mrs Schloss and her mother were liberated by the Red Army in January 1945, they were barely alive. Her father and brother both died in the camps.

After being returned to Amsterdam, her mother Elfriede—known as Fritzi—wed Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, who had also managed to survive imprisonment by the Nazis.

A Lasting Legacy

Over the past four decades, Mrs Schloss dedicated her life to trying to prevent history from repeating itself.

  • As a founder of the Anne Frank Trust UK, she safeguarded Anne Frank's memory and educated people about the Holocaust.
  • Frank's internationally famous diary—a first-hand account of life for Jewish people under Nazi occupation—has sold over 30 million copies.
  • Mrs Schloss often travelled across Europe, addressing young people in particular and spreading a message not to hate.

"I worked very, very hard to alter people's attitudes," Mrs Schloss once said. "Every individual you convince not to be racist is a step forward."

Subsequent Years

In 1951, Mrs Schloss moved to London to study photography. There she met her husband, Zvi Schloss, a German Jew who had fled to Palestine during the war.

The couple made London their home and became British citizens. Mr Schloss passed away in London in 2016. They are survived by their daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.

John Rodriguez
John Rodriguez

A film critic and streaming enthusiast with over a decade of experience in media analysis and entertainment journalism.