Could the Holocaust ever happen again? One of the last survivors of Auschwitz — and famous TikTok campaigner — has died aged 100. Some fear that society may now forget the lessons of history.
RIP Lily, beacon of light in the dark
Could the Holocaust ever happen again? One of the last survivors of Auschwitz - and famous TikTok campaigner - has died aged 100. Some fear that society may now forget the lessons of history.
In July 1944 Lily Ebert arrived at AuschwitzNazi death camp where over a million people lost their lives during WW2. concentration campA large prison for people held without legal justification, such as political prisoners or persecuted minorities. The first concentration camps were built by British colonial rulers in South Africa, but the term is most associated with Nazi camps, some of which were used to execute Jewish and other inmates as well as to imprison them.. She was 20 years old and accompanied by her family. Lily was sent right with two sisters; her mother, younger brother, and one more sister were sent left. She never saw those three family members again. 1
Lily was born in Hungary in 1923 to a middle-class Jewish family. When the NazisA German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II. invaded in 1944, Jews were put on trains and shipped to camps, most never returning.
Despite starvation, scarlet feverA contagious infection that causes a rash and flu-like symptoms. and exhausting work, Lily and her two sisters survived. In April 1945, she was rescued by an American soldier during a death marchAs the Nazis faced defeat in 1945, they forced many prisoners in concentration camp to move towards the centre of the Third Reich to prevent them from being liberated. Many people died or were deliberately killed on these brutal walks. . From there she moved to Switzerland, IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land. and finally to London in the 1960s.
While living in London, Holocaust survivors started sharing their experiences with children and grandchildren. Lily began to speak publicly, and later wrote a memoirNon-fiction writing based on the author's memories. that became a bestseller in Britain and America. She even started a TikTok account with her great-grandson, attracting millions of followers.
In 2022, Lily's portrait was unveiled at Buckingham Palace, and in 2023 she was awarded an MBEOne of the UK's state honours. It is awarded to people for outstanding service to their local community.. But her proudest achievement was creating a large Jewish family, because it meant the Nazis failed. When she died last week, she was surrounded by loved ones.
Anti-semitismShowing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people. has risen over the past few years, and surged during the current conflict in the Middle East. According to Sirpa Rautio, director of the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, "Jews are more frightened than ever before".2
But Israeli historian Raz SegalAn Israeli historian who lives in the USA. He has written books about the Holocaust. argues that Israel uses the Holocaust as an excuse for violence.3 He believes the lesson of that terrible event is to support powerless people, which today means many PalestinianPalestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years. families in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. .
With the passing of the last camp survivors, some worry the Holocaust will be forgotten. But, after Lily's death, British prime minister Keir Starmer released a statement, saying: "Together we will ensure that Lily's message echoes eternally across the generations."4
That message is one of hope, courage and resilience in the face of terrible tragedy. "When I was in the camp," Lily recalled, "I promised myself one thing: that if I survive I will tell the world what happened."5 She kept her promise.
Could the Holocaust ever happen again?
Yes: Anti-semitism is on the rise again in Europe. The Holocaust shows how societies can turn against even the most integrated Jewish communities. And today one-third of US young adults are unaware of basic facts about the Holocaust.6
No: Thanks to the work of Lily and other Jewish survivors and activists, the whole world knows about the terrible events of the 20th Century. The Holocaust prompted the creation of international laws on human rights. It could never happen in today's world.
Or... The lesson of the Holocaust is to protect the most vulnerable people. This lesson will continue beyond the lives of the last camp survivors.
Keywords
Auschwitz - Nazi death camp where over a million people lost their lives during WW2.
Concentration camp - A large prison for people held without legal justification, such as political prisoners or persecuted minorities. The first concentration camps were built by British colonial rulers in South Africa, but the term is most associated with Nazi camps, some of which were used to execute Jewish and other inmates as well as to imprison them.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Scarlet fever - A contagious infection that causes a rash and flu-like symptoms.
Death march - As the Nazis faced defeat in 1945, they forced many prisoners in concentration camp to move towards the centre of the Third Reich to prevent them from being liberated. Many people died or were deliberately killed on these brutal walks.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
Memoir - Non-fiction writing based on the author's memories.
MBE - One of the UK's state honours. It is awarded to people for outstanding service to their local community.
anti-semitism - Showing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people.
Raz Segal - An Israeli historian who lives in the USA. He has written books about the Holocaust.
Palestinian - Palestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
RIP Lily, beacon of light in the dark
Glossary
Auschwitz - Nazi death camp where over a million people lost their lives during WW2.
Concentration camp - A large prison for people held without legal justification, such as political prisoners or persecuted minorities. The first concentration camps were built by British colonial rulers in South Africa, but the term is most associated with Nazi camps, some of which were used to execute Jewish and other inmates as well as to imprison them.
Nazis - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Scarlet fever - A contagious infection that causes a rash and flu-like symptoms.
Death march - As the Nazis faced defeat in 1945, they forced many prisoners in concentration camp to move towards the centre of the Third Reich to prevent them from being liberated. Many people died or were deliberately killed on these brutal walks.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
Memoir - Non-fiction writing based on the author's memories.
MBE - One of the UK's state honours. It is awarded to people for outstanding service to their local community.
anti-semitism - Showing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people.
Raz Segal - An Israeli historian who lives in the USA. He has written books about the Holocaust.
Palestinian - Palestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.