Born: 1905 (Brussels, Belgium)
Biography:
Suzanne Spaak, also known as Suzette Spaak, was a remarkable figure in World War II as a French Resistance operative. Born on July 6, 1905, in Brussels, Belgium, Suzanne came from a wealthy banking family. She married a well-known dramatist, Claude Spaak, and together they had two children, Lucie and Paul-Louis. Suzanne was a prominent socialite in Paris, enjoying a life of luxury and prestige.
However, Suzanne’s life took a drastic turn with the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent German occupation of France. Fueled by anger towards the Nazi regime’s brutality and racial intolerance, Suzanne volunteered to work with the underground National Movement Against Racism (MNCR). As the Nazi atrocities grew, Suzanne became even more committed to freeing France and her homeland of Belgium from the clutches of the oppressors.
In her efforts to fight against the Nazi regime, Suzanne joined the Red Orchestra intelligence network. Founded by Leopold Trepper, a Polish Jew, the network was sponsored by the Soviet Union. The Red Orchestra conducted highly effective intelligence gathering in Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Their success even led to infiltration of the German military intelligence service, Abwehr. In response, the Nazis established the Red Orchestra Special Detachment with the sole purpose of destroying the network.
Despite the dangers involved, Suzanne worked tirelessly to save the lives of Jewish children who faced deportation to the German death camps. In early 1943, she was part of a group that managed to rescue 163 Jewish children who were about to be deported from the Union générale des israélites de France (UGIF) centers. To protect the children, Suzanne hid some of them in her own home. She provided them with clothing and ration cards, and arranged for their relocation to the homes of individuals across France who were willing to take the risk of hiding them.
Tragically, in Belgium, the Germans traced and monitored Red Orchestra radio transmitters in the spring of 1942. This led to the arrest of many Red Orchestra agents, who were brutally tortured and compromised the network. Over the next eighteen months, more than 600 people, including Suzanne Spaak, were arrested as a result. In October 1943, Suzanne was sent to Fresnes prison by the Gestapo.
Despite the immense risks she had taken, Suzanne’s brave efforts and sacrifices were not in vain. In recognition of her work in saving Jewish children, on April 21, 1985, Yad Vashem named Suzanne Spaak as a Righteous Among the Nations. This prestigious honor bestowed upon her acknowledges her heroic acts and selfless dedication towards protecting vulnerable lives during one of the darkest periods in history.
Suzanne Spaak’s story serves as a testament to the power of human compassion and resilience in the face of tyranny. Her unwavering commitment to justice and her resolute fight against oppression make her an inspiring figure in women’s history and a symbol of resistance during World War II.
Awards:
– Righteous Among the Nations, Yad Vashem, 1985