Holocaust Survivor Walter Frankenstein Passes Away at 100
Walter Frankenstein, a remarkable figure who survived the Holocaust by hiding in Berlin with his family, has died at the age of 100. His death was confirmed by Klaus Hillenbrand, a close friend and author of a book about Frankenstein, as well as by the foundation managing Berlin's Holocaust memorial. Frankenstein's life was a testament to resilience and the importance of remembering history's darkest chapters.
Born in 1924 in what is now Poland, Frankenstein's early life was marked by the rise of the Nazi regime. By 1936, his Jewish heritage barred him from attending public school in his hometown. With the assistance of an uncle, he moved to Berlin, where he continued his education and trained as a bricklayer. It was at the Jewish Auerbach'sche Orphanage that he met his future wife, Leonie Rosner, beginning a partnership that would see them through the horrors of the Holocaust.
Frankenstein's firsthand account of Kristallnacht in 1938, a night of widespread violence against Jews in Germany and Austria, offered a chilling glimpse into the era's brutality. From the roof of the orphanage, he witnessed the destruction of synagogues and the terror that would escalate in the years to follow. His experiences during these times, including forced labor starting in 1941, underscored the extreme measures he and his family took to survive.
In his later years, Frankenstein dedicated himself to educating younger generations about the Holocaust, ensuring that the memories of those who suffered would not fade. His passing marks the loss of a vital link to a pivotal period in history, but his legacy as a survivor and educator will continue to inspire and inform.
