Walter Frankenstein, Holocaust Survivor and Symbol of Resilience, Passes at 100

Walter Frankenstein, a remarkable figure who survived the Holocaust by hiding in various locations throughout Berlin, passed away at the age of 100. His extraordinary story underscores the resilience and bravery of the Jewish community during one of history's darkest periods.

Walter Frankenstein, who lived to be 100, passed away on April 21 in Stockholm—a city he called home since 1956. His life and legacy are a testament to the resilience of Jewish individuals during the Holocaust, as he was one of many who endured unimaginable hardship to survive.

For over two years, Frankenstein and his family were part of an underground network in Berlin, often described as human U-boats—Jews living under constant threat of discovery and deportation. They sought refuge in an array of covert locations, including bombed-out buildings, abandoned vehicles, and even subway stations repurposed as hiding places. In interviews, he recounted harrowing experiences, such as a near-fateful encounter with a military policeman in 1944 that could have ended with his identification as a Jew.

This precarious existence demonstrated the lengths to which many Jewish families had to go to elude the ever-present danger of Nazi patrols. According to Richard N. Lutjens Jr., a historian specializing in this period, the nomadic lifestyle was essential for survival, as many U-boats would resolve to move frequently due to threats posed by air raids and suspicious neighbors.

Despite the adversities he faced, including that fateful day when he revealed his true identity to a military policeman, Frankenstein lived to share his powerful story. Out of approximately 6,500 Jews who tried to navigate this harrowing landscape in Berlin, only around 1,700 survived, and he was one of them—a beacon of hope from a time of despair.