One of the last remaining survivors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp has died aged 100.
Lily Ebert died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family, her great-grandson Dov Forman said on X.
Ms Ebert was 20 years old when she was deported from her hometown in Hungary to the concentration camp.
She suffered “unimaginable loss” when her mother, younger sister and brother were killed by the Nazis in gas chambers, Mr Forman said, but she vowed to tell her story.
Mr Forman wrote a bestselling book with his great-grandmother, Lily’s Promise, which featured a foreword by the King and detailed the life she lived after the war.
After she was freed from Auschwitz she lived in Switzerland and Israel before moving to the UK in 1967 with her husband Samuel and settling in London.
She was recognised with an MBE for her services to Holocaust education in January 2023.
Earlier this year Ms Ebert told Sky News she believes the Holocaust could happen again.
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Family celebrates survivor’s ‘extraordinary life’
Mr Forman said the family’s “beloved matriarch”, known as Safta, would be hugely missed.
“Over the years, Safta’s story touched hundreds of millions worldwide, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit and the dangers of unchecked hatred. She taught us the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice,” he said.
Mourners gather around the funeral car following a service for Ms Ebert at Windsor Court. Pic: PA
“She rebuilt her life with faith and love, never asking, ‘why me?’. Instead, she focused on what could be rebuilt from the ashes, and her positivity continues to guide us through these difficult times.
“As we mourn our beloved Mummy, Safta, we also celebrate her extraordinary life. A light that shone so brightly has gone dark. She was our hero, and her absence leaves an unimaginable void in our lives.”
King Charles (then the Prince of Wales) meeting with Ms Ebert at an exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
The King leads tributes to Holocaust educator
The King paid tribute to Ms Ebert’s “extraordinary resilience and courage”, saying she “became an integral part of the fabric of our nation”.
“As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed, as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, for future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned,” he said.
Sir Keir Starmer said Ms Ebert “represented everything that was best about humanity”.
The prime minister said: “I think of her message of tolerance and hope; her courage to share her story and relive the horrors of her experience so that we might learn; her creativity and restless determination to be heard, which even led to her becoming a global star on TikTok. She was without doubt, one of this country’s great centenarians.”
The Association of Jewish Refugees celebrated her “zest for life” with its chief executive, Michael Newman, saying: “Lily was a trailblazing advocate for Holocaust education – her special connection with her great-grandson, Dov, helped to bridge the generation gap and reach millions of people through social media.”