Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer, who dedicated his life in post-war Germany to fighting anti-Semitism, has died aged 96.

German chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to Mr Mannheimer on Saturday for his efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.

Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Mrs Merkel is mourning his death and that "we owe him gratitude".

Mr Mannheimer spent two years being held in different death camps, including Auschwitz. Most of his family was murdered during the Holocaust.

After the Nazis were defeated, Mr Mannheimer dedicated his life to talking about the horrors he experienced.

He also became the head of the community of former prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp.

The German news agency dpa reported that Mr Mannheimer died on Friday at a Munich hospital. No cause of death was given.