By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Margot Friedländer, 102 Year Old Holocaust Survivor Graces Vogue Germany Cover
Margot Friedländer, a 102 year old Holocaust survivor, is the cover star for the July/August edition of Vogue Germany. Born in Berlin in 1921, Friedländer's family was tragically torn apart during World War II. Her mother and younger brother, Ralph, were arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and subsequently deported to Auschwitz, where they were murdered. Before her mother was taken, she left Margot a poignant message, “Try to make your life.”
At just 21, Friedländer went into hiding but was eventually betrayed and sent to the Theresienstadt camp in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia in 1944. Despite these harrowing experiences, Friedländer expressed gratitude in her interview with Vogue Germany, “I am grateful. Grateful that I made it. For being able to fulfill my mother’s wish. That I have made my life.”
The cover photos were taken in April at Berlin’s Botanical Garden, and the magazine highlighted its theme of love, featuring favorite pieces and people. The collector’s issue cover includes the word “love” written by Friedländer, along with her signature.
Kerstin Weng, Vogue Germany's head of editorial content, praised Friedländer as the most positive person she knows, noting her resilience and commitment to humanity. Despite her tragic past, Friedländer remains open minded and advocates for remembering history and fostering unity.
Friedländer met her husband, Adolf, in a concentration camp, and they married after liberation. The couple emigrated to the U.S. in 1946, living in New York for over six decades before Friedländer returned to Berlin in 2010 following her husband’s death. Since then, she has been an active Holocaust educator, earning numerous awards, including the Federal Cross of Merit First Class.
Friedländer voiced her concerns about the rise of right wing populism and antisemitic attacks. She emphasized the importance of focusing on commonalities rather than differences, urging society to be sensible and unified.
Her story continues to inspire, with Friedländer expressing hope that her message will be carried forward to prevent history from repeating itself. Although Friedländer is over 100 years old, she is not Vogue's oldest cover model. In 2023, Vogue Philippines featured 106 year old tattoo artist Apo Whang Od on its April cover.