Alice (Battenberg)

Alice, Princess (Princess Andrew of Greece) Her Serene Highness Princess Alice was born in Windsor Castle in 1885, as Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie. Her parents were Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Alice was diagnosed with congenital deafness at an early age, but became proficient in lip-reading and speaking a number of languages. In 1903, she married Prince Andrew, the fourth son of King George I of Greece, and became known as Princess Andrew. They had five children – Princess Margarita, Princess Theodora, Princess Cecilie, Princess Sophie and Prince Philip, future Duke of Edinburgh, and consort to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. In 1928, while living in France, Princess Alice entered the Greek Orthodox Church. In 1940, she returned to Athens alone, and during World War II she devoted herself to the poor and sick, working with the Swedish and Swiss Red Cross. During the war years, she lived in the three-story residence of her brother-in-law, Prince George, in the Psychiko suburb of Athens. In September 1943, the Italians surrendered to the Allies and the Germans entered Athens. Princess Alice came to the aid of the Cohen family, who had left Thessaloniki at the outset of the German invasion. By the time that the Cohen family needed help in Athens, Haim (Haimaki), the head of the family and a former member of parliament, had already passed away (in January 1943). Haim Cohen’s friendship with the royal family dated back to 1913 – when he had the honor of hosting members of the royal family (including King George I) in his mansion in his native Trikala. His wife, Rachel, however, was not acquainted with the princess or any members of the royal family. At first Rachel had found refuge for her family on the outskirts of Athens, assisted by Anna Chrysaki*, but then, after three weeks, they had to leave for fear of denunciation by the neighbors. Three sons – Elie, Jacques, and Alfred –managed to escape from Greece. They reached Egypt, via Turkey, in December 1943, joining the Greek forces in the Middle East. In the meantime, Rachel Cohen and her daughter Tilde found refuge in the residence of Princess Alice, in an apartment on the third floor. They stayed there from the middle of October 1943, until December 15, 1944. The princess provided two trustworthy liaisons, Dimosthenis Pouris* and Simpoulou, and, with their help, communication with the outside world was made possible. When the fourth son, Michel, had been forced to return to Athens, he, too, was given shelter in the royal residence. The princess paid regular visits to her Jewish wards, staying for cordial conversations with Rachel. Being deeply religious, she expressed interest in the Jewish faith. The Cohens’ real identity was kept secret, and the staff was informed that Rachel was a former governess of the princess’s children, and her life was threatened under Hitler’s rule. There were times when the Germans became suspicious, and Princess Alice was even interviewed by the Gestapo. Using her deafness, she pretended not to understand their questions until they left her alone. After the war, Princess Alice continued to maintain contact with Rachel, often visiting her at her Athens home. Later, contact was maintained through correspondence, since the princess moved to England. She died at Buckingham Palace in 1969. Her wish that her coffin be placed at the Russian Orthodox church of Saint Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, next to the tomb of her Aunt Elisabeth, Grand Duchess of Russia, was realized in 1988, when her remains were transferred to her final resting place. On March 11, 1993, Yad Vashem recognized Princess Alice of Greece as Righteous Among the Nations.