Franz Rosenbach, a survivor of the infamous Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz has died at the age of 85. Rosenbach was well known as the co-founder of the Bavarian Association of German, Sinti and Roma.

The association announced on Monday that Mr Rosenbach had passed away that Sunday. Rosenbach was born in present-day Czech Republic, during the age of National Socialism, but was deported at the age of 15. The Rosenbach family had all perished in Auschwitz, leaving Franz as the sole survivor. He was then transferred to other concentration camps located in Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora, where he was spent time working in the mining tunnels. The long-time deputy chairman died in Nuremberg at the age of 85.

The city of Nuremberg and the foundation both paid tribute to his life and praised, in particular, his involvement with schools and education when it came to the consequences of racism. Rosenbach was honoured this year with the Order of Merit by President Joachim Gauck.