Eva Schloss, a Holocaust survivor and the stepsister of Anne Frank, has died in London at the age of 96, the Anne Frank Trust announced. Schloss spent decades educating young people about the Holocaust and fighting prejudice through firsthand testimony and public engagement.
The foundation described her death with “deep sadness,” calling her a remarkable woman, Auschwitz survivor, dedicated Holocaust educator, and tireless advocate for memory, understanding, and peace.
A message from The King following the death of Auschwitz survivor, Eva Schloss.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 4, 2026
Eva was Anne Frank’s step-sister, and co-Founder and Honorary President of the @AnneFrankTrust, of which The Queen is Patron. The Trust works to empower young people to challenge prejudice. pic.twitter.com/8HEC8lrtYp
Tributes from King Charles III
King Charles III and Queen Camilla also expressed their sorrow. The King had danced with Eva Schloss during an event in London in 2022.
“We had the privilege and honor of knowing her and admired her deeply,” the royal couple said in a message posted on X.
Co-founder of the Anne Frank Trust
In 1990, Eva Schloss co-founded the Anne Frank Trust. The organization works to pass on the memory of the Holocaust to younger generations and to combat racism, antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination.
Childhood Shadowed by Nazism
Born Eva Geiringer in Austria in 1929, Schloss was still a child when Nazi Germany invaded the country. Her Jewish family first fled to Belgium and later settled in Amsterdam, directly across from the home where Anne Frank lived.
The two girls, who were the same age, often played together. In 1942, both families went into hiding to escape Nazi persecution.
Arrest, Auschwitz, and Survival
Two years later, Nazi sympathizers betrayed Eva’s family. Her mother Elfriede, father Erich, and brother Heinz were arrested on the day of her parents’ 15th wedding anniversary. In May 1944, the Nazis deported them to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Eva remained with her mother but was separated from her father and brother, who both died in the camp.
A New Life in London
After Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz in 1945, Eva moved to London to study. There, she met her future husband, Zvi Schloss.
Her mother later returned to Amsterdam and married Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father. Both had lost their spouses in Auschwitz, making Eva Schloss Anne Frank’s stepsister.
Author, Educator, and Honored Witness
Eva and Zvi Schloss had three daughters and became British citizens. In 2021, at the age of 92, Eva reclaimed her Austrian citizenship.
She wrote several books and shared her story around the world. In 2013, she received the title Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by royal decree, signed by then-Prince Charles.
Eva Schloss leaves behind a powerful legacy of truth, resilience, and remembrance—one that continues to educate and inspire new generations.
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