Liliana Segre, a name synonymous with resilience, courage, and the relentless pursuit of justice, has lived a life that stands as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome unimaginable adversity. Born on September 10, 1930, in Milan, Italy, Segre is not just a survivor of the Holocaust but also a revered public figure who has dedicated her life to educating others about the atrocities of World War II. Appointed as a Senator for life by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Segre’s life is a powerful narrative of survival, witness, and advocacy. This article explores the multifaceted life of Liliana Segre, offering detailed insights into her journey from a Holocaust survivor to a beacon of hope and moral conscience in contemporary society.
Early Life and the Impact of Racial Laws
Liliana Segre was born into a Jewish family in Milan, where she spent her early childhood under the care of her father, Alberto, and her paternal grandparents. Her life took a tragic turn before she even turned one, as she lost her mother, leaving a void that would be compounded by the turbulent events of her later years. The rise of fascism in Italy, under Benito Mussolini, led to the promulgation of racial laws in 1938, which had a devastating impact on Jewish families like the Segres.
At the age of eight, Liliana Segre was expelled from school due to these racial laws, a moment that marked the beginning of her painful journey through discrimination and persecution. The racial laws were designed to segregate Jews from Italian society, stripping them of their rights and dignity. For a young Liliana, this meant the abrupt end of her education and the start of a life on the run, constantly under the threat of arrest and deportation.
The Attempted Escape and Imprisonment
The year 1943 marked a significant turning point in Liliana Segre’s life. With the Nazi occupation of Northern Italy and the establishment of the Italian Social Republic, the persecution of Jews intensified. In a desperate bid to escape the looming threat of deportation, Liliana and her father attempted to flee to Switzerland, a neutral country during the war. However, their escape was thwarted when they were turned back by Swiss border guards. This rejection sealed their fate.
Following their failed escape, Liliana and her father were arrested in Varese, Italy, and subsequently imprisoned in the infamous San Vittore prison in Milan. Liliana, only 13 years old at the time, spent 40 harrowing days in San Vittore before being transported to Auschwitz, the most notorious of the Nazi concentration camps. Her time in San Vittore was a prelude to the unimaginable horrors that awaited her in Auschwitz.
Life in Auschwitz: A Journey Through Hell
Auschwitz-Birkenau, the name itself synonymous with the Holocaust, became Liliana Segre’s new reality in 1944. Upon arrival, she was separated from her father, whom she would never see again. Liliana was assigned the prisoner number “75190,” a number that was tattooed on her arm, stripping her of her identity and reducing her to a mere statistic in the Nazi regime’s machinery of death.
Out of the 776 Italian children deported to Auschwitz, Liliana was one of the few to survive. She was forced into labor at the Union munitions factory, where she toiled under inhumane conditions for nearly a year. The factory was part of the Nazi war effort, and the prisoners, including Liliana, were expendable cogs in the machinery. Despite the grueling work and the constant threat of death, Liliana managed to survive, a testament to her extraordinary resilience.
In 1945, as the Soviet Red Army advanced, Liliana and other prisoners were evacuated from Auschwitz and subjected to the infamous death marches. She was transferred to Ravensbrück, a concentration camp for women, and later to Malchow, where she remained until the camp was liberated by the Soviet forces on May 1, 1945. By the time of her liberation, Liliana was one of the 25 surviving children out of the 776 who had been deported from Italy.
Post-War Years: Silence and the Struggle to Rebuild
The end of World War II and Liliana Segre’s liberation did not bring an immediate sense of relief or closure. Like many Holocaust survivors, she returned to a world that was eager to move on from the horrors of the war, often at the expense of acknowledging the deep scars left on the survivors. Liliana returned to Milan in 1946, but her return was marked by isolation and silence.
Liliana struggled with the profound trauma of her experiences. Her relatives, like much of society at the time, were ill-equipped to understand or address the depth of her suffering. The expectation that she should assimilate into a post-war society eager to forget the past added to her burden. This period of silence lasted for decades, as Liliana grappled with her memories in solitude, a common experience among Holocaust survivors who found themselves alienated by their unspeakable pasts.
Breaking the Silence: Educating a New Generation
It wasn’t until the early 1990s, nearly 50 years after her liberation, that Liliana Segre began to break her silence. Motivated by a sense of responsibility to bear witness to the horrors of the Holocaust, she started speaking publicly about her experiences. Her decision to share her story was driven by the desire to educate younger generations and to ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust would never be forgotten.
Liliana’s testimony became a powerful educational tool, particularly in schools where she spoke to students about the dangers of hatred, racism, and intolerance. Her accounts of life in Auschwitz and her survival against all odds resonated deeply with audiences, making her a key figure in Holocaust education in Italy. Her work as a speaker was not just about recounting the past; it was a call to action for future generations to stand against prejudice and injustice.
Recognition and Honors: A Life Dedicated to Memory
Liliana Segre’s contributions to society have been widely recognized, both in Italy and internationally. In the 1990s and 2000s, she began to receive numerous honors for her work in Holocaust remembrance and education. Under the presidency of Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, she was named a Commendatore of the Italian Republic, one of the country’s highest civilian honors. In 2004, she was awarded the Gold Medal of Milan, a recognition of her enduring commitment to her city and to the memory of the Holocaust.
Academia also acknowledged her contributions. Liliana Segre was awarded honorary degrees from several prestigious universities. In 2008, she received an honorary doctorate in Law from the University of Trieste, followed by another in Educational Sciences from the University of Verona in 2010. These honors reflected not just her role as a survivor but also her impact as an educator and advocate for peace and tolerance.
In 2018, Liliana Segre’s lifelong dedication to Holocaust remembrance was further recognized when Italian President Sergio Mattarella appointed her as a Senator for life. This appointment was a historic moment, highlighting her contributions to Italian society and her role as a moral authority on issues of justice, human rights, and memory. In the same year, she was granted honorary citizenship by the cities of Palermo and Varese, further cementing her legacy as a symbol of resilience and courage.
The Power of Storytelling: Liliana Segre in Film and Literature
Liliana Segre’s life story has also been immortalized in film and literature, ensuring that her experiences and the lessons they carry reach an even wider audience. In 1997, she became the subject of the documentary film “Memorie,” which chronicles her life and her harrowing experiences during the Holocaust. This documentary was one of the first of many projects that sought to capture her testimony for future generations.
In 2004, Liliana Segre’s interview was featured in the book “Come una rana d’inverno” (“Like a Frog in Winter”), a collection of stories from Holocaust survivors. This book, along with others such as “Conversazioni con tre donne sopravvissute ad Auschwitz” (“Conversations with Three Women Who Survived Auschwitz”) and “Sopravvissuta ad Auschwitz” (“Survived Auschwitz”), offers deeper insights into her experiences and reflections on survival.
Her story was further explored in “Racconti di chi è sopravvissuto” (“Stories of Survivors”), a collection of testimonies from Italian survivors of the Holocaust, which was published between 1995 and 2004. Liliana’s involvement in these projects underscored her commitment to ensuring that the stories of the Holocaust were not just preserved but actively shared with the world.
A Continued Legacy: From Theater to Parliament
Liliana Segre’s influence extends beyond books and documentaries. In 2012, she contributed to a theatrical project titled “Come un ermellino nel fango” (“Like an Ermine in the Mud”), which focused on racial persecution and the Holocaust. The play was performed in multiple seasons in Milanese theaters and was specifically designed to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust during the Day of Remembrance.
Her involvement in such projects highlights her belief in the power of storytelling across different mediums. Whether through film, literature, or theater, Liliana Segre has used every platform available to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust are remembered and that its lessons are learned.
In 2020, at the age of 90, Liliana Segre delivered a powerful speech at the European Parliament, where she received a standing ovation. This speech was one of her last public addresses, as she decided to retire from public life shortly thereafter. Despite her retirement, her impact remains significant, particularly as an advocate for human rights and a vocal opponent of hate speech and intolerance.
The Final Years and Continued Advocacy
Even in her final years of public service, Liliana Segre remained an active figure in Italian politics and society. In 2021, she returned to the Senate to cast her vote of confidence for the Conte II government and to support the motion granting honorary Italian citizenship to Patrick Zaki, an Egyptian student and human rights activist. This act was emblematic of her lifelong commitment to justice and human rights.
The same year, the University of Pisa awarded her an honorary doctorate in Peace Sciences, recognizing her unwavering dedication to promoting peace and tolerance. This recognition was yet another testament to her lifelong mission to ensure that the horrors of the past are not repeated and that the values of human dignity and justice are upheld.
Conclusion: Liliana Segre’s Enduring Legacy
Liliana Segre’s life is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. From her early years as a victim of the Holocaust to her later life as a Senator for life, Liliana has consistently demonstrated a commitment to justice, education, and the preservation of memory. Her story is not just a personal narrative of survival but a universal call to action against hatred, intolerance, and the erasure of history.
As a survivor, educator, and public figure, Liliana Segre has left an indelible mark on Italian society and beyond. Her legacy is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the truth. In a world where the lessons of history are often forgotten, Liliana Segre stands as a beacon of hope and a reminder that we must never forget.
