Margot Friedländer, a Holocaust survivor, graces the cover and feature story of the July/August issue of Vogue magazine in Germany with her indomitable spirit and a powerful message of unity. In the interview by Vogue Germany, the 102-year-old Berlin native, who endured the unimaginable horrors of the Nazi regime, remains unwavering in her plea for togetherness and humanity.
The sun shines on Margot Friedländer's balcony, overlooking a playground where children climb and slide, their laughter echoing through the streets of Berlin. As Vogue Germany reports, "She lets herself fall into her wicker chair. 'The little ones,' she says. 'So beautiful.'" Yet, just a few kilometers away lies the Anhalter Bahnhof station, where, on June 16, 1944, she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. "So many people murdered," she laments, recalling the heartbreaking scenes of elderly women begging for scraps of bread. "I will never forget."
Despite the tragedies she witnessed, Margot Friedländer radiates positive energy with each word she speaks. "I am appalled," she tells Vogue Germany, addressing the rise of antisemitism and the allure of right-wing rhetoric among the youth. Quoting her directly, Vogue Germany reports, "Don't look at what separates you. Look at what unites you. Be human. Be reasonable."
Margot Friedländer auf dem VOGUE-Cover: "Schaut nicht auf das, was euch trennt. Schaut auf das, was euch verbindet" https://t.co/5giG4IXURf
— VOGUE_Germany (@VOGUE_Germany) June 17, 2024
Vogue Germany chronicles Friedländer's remarkable journey, from her dreams of becoming a fashion designer in pre-war Berlin to her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust. She found solace in cherished childhood memories, like her grandmother Adele's unconditional love, which sustained her through the darkest moments. "She loved me, and I loved her. She always called me 'My little mouse,'" she reminisces, as quoted by Vogue Germany.
Even after enduring unfathomable loss and betrayal, Margot Friedländer's spirit remains unbroken. As Vogue Germany reports, "Can a person who has endured all that, who has experienced so much betrayal and disappointment, feel happiness? 'Happiness. It's so big,' she says. 'Content, yes. I am content. What more can I ask of life?'"
102-year-old Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer is featured on the latest cover of @VOGUE_Germany ❤️
Friedländer tirelessly educates young people in Germany about the Holocaust, setting an incredible example of determination and commitment to civic responsibility. pic.twitter.com/GY9ZnbehmI
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) June 17, 2024
While her life has been marked by immense tragedy, Friedländer has found purpose and meaning through education and advocacy. Vogue Germany highlights her dedication to sharing her story with younger generations, visiting schools for thousands of talks about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism. As quoted in the magazine, students increasingly ask her to take sides in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, posing difficult questions about who is right and who is wrong. However, Friedländer rejects such divisiveness, imploring them instead to "Look at what unites you, not what separates you. Be human. Be reasonable." Her role as an educator has become her life's mission, ensuring that the atrocities of the past are never forgotten or repeated.
In the article, Vogue Germany highlights her unwavering determination to share her story and promote tolerance, even establishing the Margot Friedländer Foundation to encourage young people to carry on the narratives of Holocaust survivors.
As the sun sets in Berlin, Margot Friedländer's message echoes through the ages: "You young people are here. You have a future that others did not have," she tells Vogue Germany.
Vogue Germany delves deeper into Margot Friedländer's life, revealing the profound impact of her mother's final words: "Try to make your life." As she recounts in her biography, quoted by the magazine, "Try to make your life, I must try. On this and every following day of my time underground, I must try, as my mother instructed me." Despite losing her entire family to the horrors of Auschwitz, Friedländer found solace in fulfilling her mother's wish, telling Vogue Germany, "I am grateful that I was able to fulfill my mother's desire. That I made my life."
The magazine explores the juxtaposition of Friedländer's present life in Berlin with the haunting reminders of the past. During their journey through the city, Vogue Germany reports her pointing out the site of the former Jewish salon where she trained as a seamstress, recalling the shattered storefronts and antisemitic graffiti that scarred the Uhlandstraße after the Kristallnacht pogrom. Yet, despite the trauma, Berlin remains her home, a sentiment she expresses with unwavering conviction.
Friedländer's resilience extends beyond her experiences, as Vogue Germany highlights her commitment to physical and mental fortitude. Even in her later years in New York, she dedicated herself to the practice of Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art emphasizing self-defense and concentration. "When the trainer was absent or late," the magazine notes, "Margot Friedländer would simply lead the exercises herself." Her unwavering determination and poise serve as a testament to the strength of her character.
