Rose Girone, believed to be the oldest living Holocaust survivor, passed away at the age of 113 in New York on Monday. Her death was confirmed by the Claims Conference, an organization dedicated to addressing Jewish material claims against Germany.
- Rose Girone, oldest Holocaust survivor, dies at 113.
- Advocated for sharing survivors' stories.
- Born in Poland, moved to Germany at six.
- Family escaped to Shanghai during WWII.
- Emphasized resilience and positive outlook on life.
- Urgent need to share Holocaust lessons.
Born on January 13, 1912, in Janow, Poland, Rose Girone’s family relocated to Hamburg, Germany, when she was six. Her life changed dramatically with the rise of Adolf Hitler in 1933, which she described as marking the end of her aspirations. Girone was one of approximately 245,000 Holocaust survivors worldwide, a number that continues to decline as the median age of survivors is now 86.
Girone’s experiences during the Holocaust were harrowing. She married Julius Mannheim in 1937, and while pregnant in Breslau, now Wrocław, Poland, she faced the threat of Nazi persecution. After securing her husband’s release from a concentration camp with the help of Chinese visas, the family fled to Shanghai, where they endured further hardships as Jewish refugees.
After World War II, Girone and her family immigrated to the united states in 1947. She later opened a knitting store in New York and was reunited with her brother after 17 years. Girone’s life was marked by resilience and a commitment to sharing her story, emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust. Her daughter noted her mother’s wisdom, stating, “Nothing is so very bad that something good shouldn’t come out of it.”
Rose Girone’s legacy as a Holocaust survivor and advocate will continue to resonate. Her life story serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of sharing these narratives to educate future generations about the Holocaust and its enduring impact.
