Brousse Jeannette

Brousse-Maurier, Jeannette File 804 During the occupation, Jeannette Maurier was known by Jews living or near Annecy, a town near the Swiss border, as someone to turn to in time of need. Annecy, the capital of the département of Haute-Savoie, was part of the Italian-occupied zone in November 1942. The Italian government’s policies in their occupied zones were liberal and humane, and many Jews found refuge in Annecy. The situation changed in September 1943, when the area passed into German hands, and the Jews’ lives were in great danger. Maurier was an employee of the departmental government and knew of planned arrests of Jews. Being in constant touch with the French underground, she could warn those about to be arrested or deported. Because she knew all the mayors of the villages in the département, Maurier was able to arrange safe hiding places for many Jews, especially children. She also helped individuals and entire families to escape across the border. Maurier provided Jews in hiding with basic necessities such as forged identity papers and ration cards, blankets, and difficult-to-obtain clothing items. Thus, when Georges Sandberger escaped from the camp at Gurs and, with his wife and children, found refuge in Annecy, Maurier provided ration cards and forged papers. She warned them when raids were about to be launched and saved their lives several times. After the war, Rabbi Schilli, who in the 1950s became the director of the rabbinical academy (Séminaire Israélite) of Paris, testified about Maurier’s role in saving him and his family. Maurier provided the Schilli family with forged papers, and in September 1943, after the Germans entered the area, arranged safe hiding places for Schilli’s children. She provided the entire family with ration cards and, on August 10, 1944, she sheltered Rabbi Schilli and his wife in her home when they were on their way home after the curfew. Schilli related that Maurier’s rescue actions and assistance placed her andher family, who were active in the Resistance, in mortal danger. On June 4, 1973, Yad Vashem recognized Jeannette Brousse-Maurier as Righteous Among the Nations.