Marie Sophie Hingst German historian and blogger Date of Birth: 01.01.1988 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Education
2. Read on My Dear, Read On
3. Fictitious Holocaust Family
4. Growing Skepticism
5. Fabrication of Holocaust Victims
6. Journalist's Investigation
7. Emotional Turmoil and Legal Defense
8. Tragic End

Early Life and Education

Sophie Marie Hingst was born in East Germany and pursued higher education in Berlin, Lyon, Los Angeles, and Dublin. She developed a passion for literature, particularly the works of Heinrich von Kleist.

Read on My Dear, Read On

In 2013, Hingst began writing a blog titled "Read on My Dear, Read On" during an internship in Dublin. She adopted a literary style, sharing personal experiences in Ireland and Germany. A prominent theme in her blog was her alleged Jewish heritage.

Fictitious Holocaust Family

Hingst wrote about her "beloved grandmother," a Holocaust survivor who hosted gatherings for former Auschwitz prisoners. She described her grandparents commemorating Kristallnacht by stopping clocks and sitting in darkness, awaiting the return of relatives who never came.

Growing Skepticism

Historians and blog readers began to question the accuracy of Hingst's claims, citing inconsistencies and factual errors. Despite accusations of "outrageous slander," Hingst responded aggressively.

Fabrication of Holocaust Victims

In December 2018, a researcher contacted Der Spiegel magazine after discovering that Hingst had submitted information about 22 fictitious Holocaust victims to Yad Vashem. The allegations were thoroughly investigated, revealing a fabricated genealogy.

Journalist's Investigation

Martin Doerry, a Der Spiegel journalist, compared Hingst's blog entries to Yad Vashem's records and found significant discrepancies. He also discovered that her supposed Jewish relatives were actually Lutheran. Doerry denounced Hingst's actions as disrespectful to genuine Holocaust victims.

Emotional Turmoil and Legal Defense

Hingst hired a lawyer and claimed that her blog was a literary work. She attributed her stories to depression in Dublin. Doctors assessed her as emotionally unstable, and her mother revealed her long-term struggle with mental illness.

Tragic End

On July 17, 2019, Sophie Marie Hingst was found dead in her bed. No signs of foul play were detected, and her mother suspects suicide.