Michael Smuss, the last living survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, died on 21 October at age 99 after a lifetime devoted to Holocaust remembrance.
German Ambassador Condemns Loss
Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel, said with sorrow that “we have received the news of Michael Smuss’s death, the last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.”
He added that Smuss “dedicated his life to Holocaust education” and remembered their meetings at the Zikaron BaSalon.
Lifetime of Holocaust Education
Earlier, the ambassador had presented Smuss with Germany’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Merit, for his work educating about the Holocaust and promoting German‑Israeli dialogue.
Early Life and Ghetto Entry
Smuss was born in 1926 in Gdańsk and later lived in Łódź and Warsaw. In 1940 he was transported to the Warsaw Ghetto, where he immediately joined the Jewish resistance.
Resistance Actions in the Ghetto
Smuss worked on refurbishing German soldiers’ helmets, accessed a flammable liquid, stole it and supplied the resistance with its use to produce Molotov cocktails, as described by Associated Press.
He recounted in a South Carolina museum film that they filled bottles with the liquid, placed them on building roofs near the ghetto’s entrance, and waited to drop them on German soldiers.
Participation in the Uprising and Escape
During the uprising, Smuss fought directly, throwing Molotov cocktails from rooftops, as a family member told AP.
After the uprising fell, he was arrested and was to be sent to Treblinka, but German authorities halted the transfer, citing a need for labour. He later survived in several camps and was liberated from Auschwitz.
Post‑War Life and Artistry
After the war, Smuss emigrated to the United States and later to Israel, where he turned to painting, which helped him cope with trauma.
Despite his experiences, a family member recalled his enduring sense of humour, saying Smuss would smile and laugh even at age 99.
