Tributes are pouring in from across the United Kingdom and beyond following the peaceful passing of Eva Schloss MBE, the Auschwitz survivor and stepsister of Anne Frank. She was 96 years old.
A Life Dedicated to Remembrance and Peace
The Anne Frank House confirmed that Eva Schloss died in London on January 3, 2026. Her death marks the loss of one of the last remaining direct witnesses to the horrors of the Nazi death camps. As co-founder and honorary president of the Anne Frank Trust UK, she spent decades campaigning against racism, intolerance, and hatred.
In a heartfelt statement, her family described her as a "remarkable woman" and a "devoted Holocaust educator" who was "tireless in her work for remembrance, understanding and peace." They expressed hope that her legacy would continue through the books, films, and educational resources she created.
Royal Tribute and a Global Legacy
King Charles III led the national mourning, stating he and the Queen were "greatly saddened" by the news. The King, who famously danced with Eva during a 2022 visit to a north London Jewish community centre, said he felt "privileged and proud" to have known her.
He praised her extraordinary resilience, noting that despite enduring incomprehensible horrors as a young woman, she "devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice." The monarch highlighted her promotion of "kindness, courage, understanding and resilience" through her work with the Anne Frank Trust UK and global Holocaust education.
From Childhood Friend to Stepsister and Educator
Eva Schloss's life was inextricably linked with one of history's most poignant stories. Born in Austria in 1929, her family fled to Amsterdam, where they became neighbours of the Frank family. Eva and Anne, born just months apart, often played together.
Both families were forced into hiding on the same day in 1942. In 1944, Eva's family was betrayed and deported to concentration camps. While Eva and her mother, Fritzi, survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, her father and brother were murdered.
After the war, Eva settled in London, marrying Zvi Schloss. In a poignant twist, her mother later married Anne Frank's father, Otto Frank, making Eva Anne's posthumous stepsister. Eva dedicated her life to sharing her testimony, authoring three books: Eva's Story, After Auschwitz, and The Promise.
In 1990, she co-founded the Anne Frank Trust UK, which empowers young people to challenge prejudice. The Trust's impact is vast; in 2024 alone, it worked with over 132,000 young people and trained more than 5,300 as Peer Educators.
In a powerful 2024 statement, Eva warned: "We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as 'other.'" She championed education as the key to respect and coexistence.
Dan Green, Chief Executive of the Anne Frank Trust, called Eva a "beacon of hope and resilience" whose "unwavering commitment... has left an indelible mark on countless lives." He affirmed that her legacy would continue to guide efforts to build a world free from hatred.
