Elisabeth Eidenbenz papers Nachlass Elisabeth Eidenbenz (1913-2011)

Elisabeth Eidenbenz (1913-2011), was a teacher, nurse, and aid worker for refugees in the camps of Argelès-sur-Mer, Saint Cyprien, and Rivesaltes, France and in other places. Elisabeth Eidenbenz was a founder of the Mothers of Elne (also known as Maternitat d'Elna in Catalan, Maternidad de Elna in Spanish and Maternité Suisse d'Elne in French). Between 1939 and 1944, she saved some 600 children who were mostly the children of Spanish Republicans, Jewish refugees and Romanies fleeing the Nazi invasion. Elisabeth was a young teacher from Switzerland, teaching in Switzerland and Denmark until she decided to join the Asociación de Ayuda a los Niños en Guerra ("Association to Aid Children in War"). After the fall of the Spanish Republic many Republicans sought refuge in France. Many died of malnutrition, disease and other afflictions. Many pregnant woman were destined to lose their unborn children, or die in childbirth. Elizabeth decided to convert an abandoned mansion in Elne (adjacent to Argelès-sur-Mer) into a maternity home. This humanitarian work relied on voluntary donations from Europe, but after the start of World War II, funds dried up while refugees began to arrive from France and the rest of Europe. These were mainly Jewish women fleeing the Nazi occupation. Therefore, the group of volunteers was forced to associate themselves with the Red Cross, and to abide by the policy of neutrality. This would have prevented them from sheltering political refugees, mostly Jews. It was therefore decided that the identity of most of the refugees would be hidden in order to circumvent these laws. They were harassed by the Gestapo and on one occasion detained. Some 400 Spanish children and 200 Jews from Europe were saved throughout this period. From 2002, the work of Elisabeth Eidenbenz began to gain recognition with the publication of several books on her life, and just before Easter 2002, when 60 of those whom Elisabeth helped to survive, reunited in Elne to honor “La Señorita.” Elisabeth Eidenbenz subsequently received awards for her work; among others, she was named a "Righteous among the Nations " by Yad Vashem, became an honorary citizen of Elne, received the "Medalla de oro de la Orden Civil de la Solidaridad" by the Spanish Government, and was inducted into the French Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor).

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Archiv für Zeitgeschichte - Archivleitung

Source of acquisition is the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Archiv für Zeitgeschichte (AfZ), Switzerland; Archival signature: NL Elisabeth Eidenbenz. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives received the collection via the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s International Archives Project in March 2017.