A south Florida man who wrote a discredited memoir about meeting his wife at a second world war concentration sub-camp has died.

Officials at Levitt Weinstein Eternal Light Funeral Service said Herman Rosenblat died on 5 February and was buried on 8 February in Hollywood, Florida. He was 85.

In 2008, Berkley Books cancelled Rosenblat’s memoir, Angel at the Fence, after he acknowledged he and his wife of 50 years did not meet – as they had said for years – at a sub-camp of Buchenwald, where she allegedly sneaked him food.

Historical records show Rosenblat was indeed imprisoned at Buchenwald and other camps. However, the love story was discredited following allegations by scholars, friends and family members that it was untrue.

Rosenblat lived in North Miami Beach with his wife, Roma.