Lilianna Segre
Holocaust survivor, Italian Senator, human rights advocate
Lilianna Segre was born on September 10, 1930, in Milan, Italy, to a wealthy Jewish family. During World War II, at just thirteen years old, she was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where she remained until the camp's liberation. She was one of only 25 Italian children to survive the Holocaust. After the war, Segre initially kept her experiences private, focusing on rebuilding her life and raising a family. However, decades later, she began speaking publicly about her experiences, becoming one of Italy's most important witnesses to the Holocaust. In 2018, at the age of 87, she was appointed as a Senator for Life by the Italian President, making her one of the oldest living Holocaust survivors to hold such a position. Through her testimony, books, and advocacy work, she has worked tirelessly to combat antisemitism, racism, and the resurgence of fascism in Europe. Her legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of genocide and the importance of remembrance and moral vigilance.
Historical Figure
Italian
1930
Thinking about the name
Lilianna
Latin origin
“An ornate variation of Lily, adding the classical suffix -anna to the Latin lilium. Lilianna has a romantic, Renaissance-inspired quality and gained visibility through popular culture; it suggests both botanical gentleness and sophisticated femininity.”