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Manfred Goldberg, a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to educating others about the atrocities of the Shoah, has died at the age of 95. His passing was announced by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), for which he served as a passionate and influential speaker for many years.
Born in Kassel, Germany, in 1930, Goldberg's childhood was shattered by the rise of the Nazi regime. His father managed to escape to Britain in August 1939, but Manfred, his mother, and his younger brother, Herman, were unable to join him. In December 1941, the family was deported to the Riga Ghetto in Latvia. They were later transported to the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland, where his brother Herman was murdered. Goldberg endured unimaginable conditions, including forced labor and a death march, before being liberated in Neustadt in 1945.
After the war, Goldberg was reunited with his father in the UK in 1946. For decades, he remained silent about his experiences, but eventually became one of the most prominent voices in Holocaust education, sharing his testimony with thousands of students, teachers, and dignitaries across the country. Karen Pollock, chief executive of the HET, described him as a "truly extraordinary man" whose story of survival and resilience left a profound impact on everyone he met. His work also saw him engage with the Royal Family, meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales on several occasions.
In recognition of his lifetime commitment, Goldberg received multiple honors for his services. He was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) and was recently made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), an honor bestowed upon him by King Charles. Tributes have poured in from across the UK, with political leaders and community figures praising his courage and his unwavering dedication to ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. As reported by The Jewish Chronicle, his loss is felt deeply by the community he so tirelessly served.
