Cugnet Pierre & Estelle

Cugnet, Pierre Cugnet, Estelle Before the war Maurice (b. 1920) and Léon (b. 1921) Saslawski lived with their parents in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), France, where they owned a clothing shop. When the Vichy regime came into power, they had to give their shop to non-Jews. In 1942, when arrests of Jews began to take place in the south of France as well, Maurice and Léon decided to flee to London, where they thought they would join the French Forces of De Gaulle. They only managed to get as far as the small town of Montmélian (Savoie). There they somehow met Pierre and Estelle Cugnet and went to hide at their place. Pierre and Estelle lived with their four children. They agreed to hide the two Jewish brothers despite the great risk to their own family. Whenever they felt danger nearby, Maurice and Léon went to hide in a closet. Since the Germans suspected Pierre and Estelle were sheltering someone, they came to visit often, which forced the two Jewish boys to hide frequently. They were lucky that they were never caught. Maurice and Léon stayed with the Cugnets until 1944, when the area was liberated. During the whole time they spent there, they did not go out, for fear of denunciation and questions from the neighbors. The Cugnets took complete care of them, providing them with food and supplies on a daily basis. Pierre and Estelle Cugnet were very courageous, acting out of their deep sense of humanity and patriotism to France, which they loved. After the liberation, Maurice and Léon managed to reunite with their father, who had also survived, hidden somewhere else. They never forgot the kindness and courage of this French couple who opened their house and hearts, when so many others did not. On November 5, 2013, Yad Vashem recognized Pierre and Estelle Cugnet as Righteous Among the Nations.