An Holocaust survivor, who turned 98 eight decades ago after having survived Auschwitz concentration camp, received thousands of messages and birthday cards.
Lily Ebert has 10 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. She celebrated her 50th birthday on Wednesday.
Over 2,500 birthday wishes were sent to her, and she said they showed that the Nazis had not won.
As she turns 98, eight decades after her escape from Auschwitz concentration camp, a Holocaust survivor received thousands of messages and birthday cards.
Lily Ebert (above), a grandmother of 34 and ten great-grandchildren respectively, celebrated her 50th birthday on Wednesday. Pictured here with her birthday cake
Lily said, “I didn’t expect to survive Auschwitz.” At 98 I am surrounded by family and celebrate the fact that the Nazis didn’t win.
Dov Forman (18 years old) asked Lily, Lily’s great-grandson to ask the 1.5 million TikTok users, “Help me surprise her amazing great grandmother for her 98th Birthday!”
All over the globe, cards arrived and several MPs commented on Dov’s tweet, including Matt Hancock, Sajid Javid and others.
MailOnline was told by Dov that Dov: “It’s so humble to see so many people from all around the globe respond to my request for Lily to surprise her on her birthday!”
“My great-grandmother survived Auschwitz, the Holocaust and has built a loving and large family. She has three children and 10 grandkids.
‘Lily’s 98th birthday, which is now being celebrated together with millions online, is another of life’s affirmations – the Nazis, and the prejudice and hatred that they stood for, didn’t win.’
Over 2,500 birthday cards were sent to her. She said they showed the Nazis lost. Pictured with her great-grandson Dov Forman
Lily said, “I didn’t expect to survive Auschwitz.” Now at 98 years old, I’m surrounded my family and am celebrating – they didn’t win.
All over the globe, cards arrived and several MPs commented on Dov’s tweet, including Matt Hancock, Sajid Javid and others.
Lily, Hungarian Jews, was one of the last train passengers to reach Auschwitz. She spent months in Birkenau and then was transported to Altenburg.
In Lily’s Promise, How I Survived Auschwitz, and Found the Strength To Live, the survivor recounts her experience in an incredibly moving book. It details the horrors of living in concentration camps.
Lily was born in December 1923 in Bonyhád, a town in southwestern Hungary which at the time had a Jewish population of nearly 7,000.
In July 2020 she was first to make headlines after searching for her family, which included an American soldier who had given her a note with a message that wished her luck and happiness.