“It was ordinary people who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis,” said David Rosler, 85, from Rebekah, Belgium. “I want to remind you of that.”
David wants to live on his own and see his own children and grandchildren grow up. Thanks to one: George Borlet (1896-1976), a surveyor from the Auderchem district of Brussels. For Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, David’s greatest wish before he died: a monument to Israel Yad Vashem To remember his savior and him “The Righteous Among the Nations” appoint.
1940. The German Wehrmacht invades Belgium. After 18 days the country surrenders. At that time, Jude David Roessler (nee Lanka) was only two years old. His grandfather and uncle are arrested and disappear forever. The boy first fled to a Catholic monastery with his mother, Sabine.
When the convent is attacked some time later, resistance supporters rescue mother and son. They contact surveyor Georges Bourlet.
Without hesitation, he hides both of them in the apartment on the first floor. Throughout his life, however, David has only vague memories of the tall man, his four children, and the white town house. He was only six years old at the end of the war.
The Borlette family’s white townhouse in the 1930s and yesteryear
Surname? Address? Birthday? No!
After World War II, Sabine married an Auschwitz survivor and moved with him to Austria. A shocked mother doesn’t talk about time with the Bourlette family. As a result, communication with rescue personnel was cut off.
In the 1960s, David returned to Belgium and started a family. As the years pass, the desire to say “thank you” grows. David: “Without George I would never have grown up and never had children. He’s my hero!” But he could not get anything further in his search.
In fact, he lived less than an hour from George.
In 2022, Rossler’s son Lionel (55) launches a last call via Facebook. Here it is: geneticist Mary Gabbard (47). “My Heritage” He observes him. The woman combed through various archives, comparing telephone directories from the 1930s with Roessler’s basic information. Mary to Build: “Four Children a Search Approach.” In fact: Mary quickly found a family of six called Borlet in Aderchem.
Questions for posterity revealed: Yes, it was once said that grandfather hid a Jewish boy and his mother. But not much is said about it.
See you again in a little while! Roesler recognizes the “White House” immediately.
With tears in his eyes, David said: “The family can be very proud of their grandfather.”
When asked about Bild, the International Holocaust Memorial said the application had been received and was currently being reviewed. But it takes a lot of time. David’s absence.
. “Amateur alcohol specialist. Reader. Hardcore introvert. Freelance explorer.”