Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg has passed away at the age of 95. He was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Germany in April 1930 and experienced increasing persecution under the Nazi regime.
At just 11 years old, Manfred was deported to a ghetto in Latvia where conditions were marked by a lack of food, forced labor, and constant fear. Inmates were frequently chosen for mass shootings in nearby forests on the outskirts of Riga.
In 1944, he was transferred to Stutthof concentration camp near Gdansk, Poland, where he endured eight months as a slave laborer. Manfred was eventually liberated in Neustadt, Germany on May 3, 1945, and later reunited with his father in Britain a year after.
The Holocaust Educational Trust paid homage to Manfred for dedicating his life to ensuring the memory of the Holocaust’s atrocities is never forgotten and that all forms of antisemitism are confronted. Over the years, he met with members of the British royal family and was honored with an MBE in September.
Karen Pollock, the trust’s chief executive, described Manfred as «truly extraordinary» and mourned his passing, stating that his death has left an irreplaceable void. She emphasized his kindness, wisdom, and guidance, calling him a righteous individual and vowing to continue his mission in his honor.
In 2018, Manfred returned to Germany to lay a memorial stone for his brother Herman, who perished during the Holocaust. He also took part in an initiative that allows students to engage with Holocaust survivors through artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology.
On Holocaust Memorial Day in 2023, Manfred highlighted the importance of preserving survivors’ testimonies and educating future generations about the horrors of the Holocaust. He stressed the danger of denying historical events like the Holocaust and the necessity of keeping its memory alive to combat hatred.
Manfred Goldberg leaves behind a legacy of remembrance and education. He was married with four sons, several grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. May his memory be a blessing.
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