In Memoriam Erika Kosnar (1932–2026)

Erika Kosnar was born as Erika Nemschitz into a working-class family in Vienna in 1932. Her father was Jewish; her mother had converted to Judaism. Despite being pressured to divorce by Nazi authorities, Erkia’s mother refused to separate from her husband.

From 1942 onwards, as a so-called “Mischling 1. Grades” (“first-degree half-breed”), Erika was no longer allowed to attend school. She was forced to take the middle name “Sara” and wear a Star of David. The family lived in constant fear; her father was made to perform forced labour. Shortly before the end of the war, her parents were injured in a bombing raid. Erika managed to get herself and her grandmother to safety just in time. Both her parents survived.

After the liberation in 1945, Erika Kosnar continued her education; she worked as a secretary, started a family and became the mother of two children.

For many years, Erika Kosnar was active as a contemporary witness; she visited schools and spoke about her childhood during the Nazi era. With her quick-witted, open and humorous manner, she was particularly successful in connecting with young people. She possessed the rare gift of capturing their attention and bringing history to life for them in a critical yet sometimes tongue-in-cheek way.

In 2025, Erika Kosnar was awarded the Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of education.

Erika Kosnar was sadly unable to receive the honour as a contemporary witness, which she was due to receive during the Simon Wiesenthal Prize ceremony at the Parliament on 12 November.

Hannah Lessing, Managing Director of the National Fund, had come to know Erika Kosnar over the years and held her in high regard as a woman with great inner strength. “I would have loved to have presented Erika with this honour in person. May her memory be a blessing.”

Erika Kosnar lived true to the words her father had given her to guide her through life and which, as she said, she adopted as her guiding principle: “If you forget everything else in life, there is one thing you must never forget – that you are human!”

We will remember Erika Kosnar with great respect and sincere gratitude. With her passing, a distinctive and memorable voice has fallen silent, one that will remain in the memories of many.

Our heartfelt condolences go to her family and all those who were close to her.