Albrecht Weinberg, a Holocaust survivor, has died at the age of 101, his hometown of Leer confirmed on Tuesday. Weinberg spent years recounting his harrowing experiences from the Nazi era, advocating tirelessly for freedom and democracy. He survived three concentration camps and faced unimaginable horrors that began in his childhood. He recounted being forced to leave his East Frisian home and subsequently deported with his siblings to Auschwitz. For two years, he endured life in the extermination camp before being moved on death marches in the winter of 1945 to Mittelbau-Dora, followed by KZ Neuengamme, and finally arriving at KZ Bergen-Belsen, where he was gravely weakened.
Since returning to his East Frisian home from New York 14 years ago, Weinberg had been a constant and indefatigable witness, warning the public against forgetting the atrocities committed.
His later life included significant public engagement. Most recently, in January 2025, he reportedly decided to return the Federal Cross of Merit, which he had received in 2017. This decision followed a motion in the Bundestag concerning migration policies that gained support from the AfD.
Both the Mayor of Leer, Claus-Peter Horst, and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier paid tribute to Weinberg. Horst noted that the city considers his death a great loss, praising his tireless efforts to educate the public about his experiences.
Steinmeier wrote that as a survivor of the Shoah, Albrecht Weinberg dedicated himself to freedom and democracy, bringing “reconciliation” to the country, for which the nation is profoundly grateful. The president recalled shared memories, such as their visit to the Bergen-Belsen memorial site in 2022. While acknowledging the pain of him giving up his award, Steinmeier framed the action as a difficult lesson, prompting everyone to commit fully to supporting democracy. He emphasized that Weinberg’s life story remains a critical warning for current and future generations, underscoring the ongoing national responsibility to support the Jewish community and preserve democratic values in a time when such values are increasingly threatened.
