Gerda Weissmann Klein

Gerda Weissmann Klein (1924–2022) was an acclaimed Holocaust survivor, author, and human rights activist. Born in Bielsko, Poland, she was a teenager when Nazi Germany invaded. Gerda endured forced labor camps and a death march before being liberated in 1945. Her memoir, "All But My Life," is a poignant account of her survival and resilience. In the United States, she became a passionate advocate for tolerance and education, founding Citizenship Counts to promote engaged citizenship. Klein received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for the documentary "One Survivor Remembers" and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.