Jean-Claude Benguigui aged five, Albert Bulka aged four and Paula Mermelstein aged 10 have one thing in common. They were three of 105 Jewish children, rescued by a Polish lady called Sabine Zlatin and bought to a country hideaway high in the hills above Chambery during the war.
Tragically on April 6th 1944 two truckloads of Gestapo soldiers arrived under the orders of Klaus Barbie and rounded up the three mentioned along with 41 other children. “Are you their parents?” they asked the seven adults looking after them. “No, but we will stay with them,” they said. On the journey the children sang defiantly “You’ll never keep Alsace and Lorraine.” They were all in Auschwitz 10 days later, where they were gassed. Out of the adults one survived but the rest were taken to places as far away as Estonia where they were shot.
Our visit to the beautiful house where these children lived their last happy, tranquil weeks before deportation just outside the village of Izieu was prompted by Bea. She saw a picture of a concentration camp in the museum in Chambery and wanted to know all about the war. We told her as best we could, we drew maps showing how the Germans swept through Europe, explaining that it was a little like her taking over Olivia and Leo’s rooms. Hitler was hard to explain. “Is he more evil than Captain Hook?” asked Leo. “Why did he kill all those people?” asked Bea.
I had heard about the house before and always wanted to visit but never had the courage. Once I had children of my own, anything sad involving any children makes me weep. I did weep. I wept at the little innocent letters written by the children to their parents (who were in camps heaven knows where), to their adored teacher, the wonderful drawings they drew. But it was also an inspirational visit. I was inspired that there are people who will risk their lives for others, who rather than hiding from evil fight it. And I loved the idea that whatever horrific fate awaited the children, they had been rescued from certain death (mainly from the Herault, where we live) and had some weeks of security, peace and loving in the most beautiful surroundings beforehand. And let’s not forget the 60 or so, who thanks to Mme Zlatin, did survive.
We walked up the hill behind the house after our visit, still talking about the war. Bea went to bed reading the Diary of Anne Frank. This topic seems to have gripped her like no other. If you are ever in this region then do visit the Maison d’Izieu. And take your children. I think the house rather enjoys the sound of small feet running around it and laughter.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
Helena,
How moving! When I was in Bavaria with my god-daughter in 1994 we visited Dachau. The depth of the despair inherent in that camp has never dispersed. I felt it as I entered the camp and it put quite a damper on our day. My Mother was Jewish, however, I never knew her. She died when I was 6 weeks old in an accident. I was not raised in that faith and I never knew my Jewish relatives. My Father’s side of the family is of (PA) German and Scots-Irish extraction.It is very sobering to think what might have happened had we lived in Europe during the 30’s and 40’s. Since that trip I have read a great deal about the Holocaust and the events leading up to it. While the Nazi’s raised their persecution to a fine art, there has been a long history of “pograms” aimed at the Jews since the Middle Ages in all parts of Europe. Coming from a country that is a melting pot of nationalities and religions I find it a little baffling to understand the Nationalistic fervor that resulted in the periodic persecution of European Jews. It would be nice to think that we learned something from that terrible events of World War II, yet ethnic cleansing still goes onto this day.
Sharon G.
I visited this house when I was 14 , it was 14 years ago.
I still cannot talk about it without crying.
The same day, we also visited the “musée de la résistance et de la déportation” in Lyon, where I discovered some drawings made by one of my oncle, I didn’t even know he has been deported in Buchenwald …
Today, I’m leaving in Germany, not far away from Buchewald..
I don’t have enough courage to go.
I hope and pray that courage comes easily when children are involved……………
Mihnas
I understand your pain. I would not have gone to Dachau if it had not been for my god-daughter insisting that we must go to see it. I am eternally gratful for her support that day.
Sharyn G
Hitler is indeed far more evil than Captain Hook,When WWII broke out, Peter Pan,Wendy Darling, her daughter,Jane agreed to a truce with Hook to fight Hitler, Hitler ,in Peter Pan’s words:”This bloodthirsty guttersnipe”. Anyone seen Disney’s Return to Neverland? If Hitler conquered Britain, Neverland will be Hitler’s next target. One thing the Allies had is FAITH,TRUST & PIXIE DUST!