The mayor of Nice and the Sisters of St. Clare unveiled a plaque in memory of the Jewish children saved by the Sisters of St. Clare during World War II.
In 1943, Nice became the scene of barbaric acts orchestrated by Nazi Germany. During World War II, more than 400 children were deported from the Alpes-Maritimes to be killed at Auschwitz.
The distress and injustice endured by these people did not leave everyone indifferent. A spark of acts, gestures of kindness implemented by the bravest to help the persecuted Jews.
Hope was what the Rรฉseau Marcel, led by Odette Rosenstock and Moussa Abadi, Pastors Edmond Evrard and Pierre Gagnier, as well as Monseigneur Paul Rรฉmond, offered to the Jews starting in September 1943. In those dark times, when Jews were hunted, the Rรฉseau Marcel organized rescues. They hid 527 Jewish children, including about a hundred at the Sainte-Claire Monastery.
Jews Hidden Among the Sisters of St. Clare in Cimiez
As Sister Claire-Elisabeth explains, this plaque pays homage to the courage of the Sisters of St. Clare, for saving Jews. There were 46 of them at the time. Among them, Mother Anne-Marie, Sisters Emmanuelle, and Rose, Righteous Among the Nations.
At the risk of their lives, they took care of these children targeted by the Nazi regime. Despite being denounced multiple times, the convent was visited by the Gestapo, who came to capture the children. Thanks to their devotion and kindness, the Sisters succeeded every time in hiding the children.
To honor the community of the Sisters of St. Clare, Christian Estrosi presented the medal of the city of Nice to Claire-Elisabeth.
A Shoah Memorial Planned for End of 2025
This plaque is part of a continuum: for 16 years, the city of Nice has been committed to this cause. “School by school, place by place, where we have known this tragedy,” details the Mayor, who intends to honor the memory of those taken by the Shoah.
He emphasizes the importance of the duty of remembrance: “so that no one can say ‘I didn’t know,’ or ‘This does not concern me,’” he insists.
Christian Estrosi recalls the Wall of the Righteous, erected on the Castle Hill, the “Righteous Among the Nations” Unknown plaque, and also the plaques honoring Sainte-Thรฉrรจse, Don Bosco, and Sasserno establishments that hid Jews.
Thus, by the end of 2025, Nice will have a Shoah memorial on Meyerbeer Street.
