Michael Smuss, the last surviving member of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, passed away at the age of 99 on Thursday.
A month ago, German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert awarded him the "Order of Merit," the highest honor given by the Federal Republic of Germany, in recognition of his contributions to Holocaust education and to promoting dialogue between Germany and Israel.
"I was saddened to hear of Michael Smuss' passing," Seibert said this morning. "He dedicated his life to teaching about the Holocaust. I will never forget the 'Zikaron BaSalon' event with him. Just last month, I had the honor of presenting him with the Federal Cross of Merit."
Michael Smuss was born on April 15, 1926, in Danzig, where his family lived until the rise of the Nazi Party.
His father decided to move the family to the Polish city of Łódź when Michael was 12 years old. In Łódź, he studied at Isaac Katzenelson's gymnasium and was a member of a youth movement.
His mother held a Danzig passport, so the family decided to split: his mother and sister stayed behind, while Michael and his father moved to Warsaw, where they lived in the ghetto from 1940 until the uprising in 1943.
Hardship in the Warsaw Ghetto
They endured extreme hardship, with widespread hunger and frequent disease. Fortunately, both worked in a factory repairing military equipment for the German army.
"In the ghetto, I witnessed the horrors caused by the Nazis to the Jews," he used to say. "A few young friends and I joined the underground resistance. The resistance's goal was to stop the Nazis' terrible deeds. I smuggled weapons for the resistance and made Molotov cocktails – a means of preparing for a revolt against the Nazis."
"Additionally, the situation – or, as I call it, God's grace – played in my favor: I was one of the last people in the Warsaw Ghetto, where tens of thousands had already died. The Nazis wanted to report positively on the so-called successful ghetto, so they invited journalists. That's why they didn't kill us."
Later, Michael Smuss was sent to various death camps, including Budzyn, Majdanek, Plaszow, Wieliczka, and Flossenbürg in Bavaria. He survived them all. In April 1945, he was forced to endure the "death march," which lasted for seven days and nights, from Flossenbürg to Stamsried. He survived that as well.
After the war, Michael Smuss dedicated his life to Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism. Throughout the Holocaust, he courageously risked his life, fought for his survival, and helped fellow prisoners in the Warsaw Ghetto. Even after being captured by the Nazis and sent to concentration camps, his resilience and bravery stood as a testament to his extraordinary spirit.
"We mourn the passing of Holocaust survivor Michael Smuss today," said the 'Zikaron BaSalon' organization, which preserves Holocaust memory through intimate meetings in homes, communities, and educational institutions.
"Michael, whose big heart defined him more than anything, was a close friend and a central partner in Zikaron BaSalon. He dedicated his life to sharing his testimony, not just to remember the past, but as a living moral call.
"He shared this call with thousands of people in Israel and around the world. Michael fought in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and as a young man, he learned that memory is not a ceremony, but a responsibility. He passed that lesson on to us, and with his departure, we mourn the loss of the dear person who was our compass.
"We also commit to continuing his path: to remember and remind. Saying goodbye to Michael is yet another reminder of the responsibility we, as a society, have to pass on the memory to future generations.
"We will continue to share his story and the stories of many others in Zikaron BaSalon memory sessions. His spirit will continue to guide us forward, especially in these times. May his memory be a blessing."