Elfriede Geiringer was born on February 13, 1905, in Austria. Growing up, she had a happy childhood surrounded by loving family members. Little did she know that her life would be forever changed by the horrors of the Holocaust.
Elfriede was first married to Erich Geiringer, with whom she had two children, Eva and Heinz. Tragedy struck when the Geiringer family was forced to go into hiding in the Netherlands to escape the persecution of the Nazis. Despite their efforts to remain hidden, they were eventually discovered in 1944 and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp.
During her time at Auschwitz, Elfriede tragically lost both of her children and her first husband. It was a harrowing experience that would have broken many, but Elfriede somehow found the strength to survive and carry on. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, she met Otto Frank, who had also lost his family in the concentration camps.
Elfriede and Otto Frank found solace in each other's company and eventually fell in love. They were married in 1953 and started a new life together in Switzerland. Despite the immense loss and suffering they had both endured, they found happiness in each other and in building a new family together.
Elfriede Geiringer's story is one of survival, resilience, and love. She lived to the age of ninety-three, passing away in London. Her daughter, Eva Schloss, who survived the Holocaust alongside Anne Frank, has continued to share their story through her memoirs and talks about her experiences.
Elfriede's legacy lives on through her family, who have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the world never forgets the atrocities of the Holocaust. Her strength and courage in the face of unimaginable hardship serve as an inspiration to all who hear her story.
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