Meet the Holocaust Survivor: Steven Frank BEM

Steven Frank was born in Amsterdam, and his childhood was abruptly transformed when Nazi forces occupied the Netherlands in 1940. At just five years old, he was singled out because he was Jewish: excluded from public life, separated from friends, and forced to navigate a world that had suddenly turned hostile. His father, Leonard Frank, a respected lawyer, chose to resist rather than flee, speaking out against Nazi persecution and helping those at risk. In 1941, Leonard was arrested for his actions and never returned home. Soon after, Steven, his mother, and his brothers were deported to Westerbork transit camp and later to Theresienstadt, where they endured severe hardship, hunger, and the constant threat of deportation.

Against extraordinary odds, Steven and his brothers survived, amongst just 93 of the 15,000 children sent to Theresienstadt. After the war, the family rebuilt their lives in England. Today, Steven shares his story with audiences across the UK.