Jewish man bequeaths nearly £2m to French village that sheltered him from the Nazis as a child
The French Village took in an estimated 2500 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and Schwan was one of them.
Although the amount has not been made public, the former and current mayor of the village have noted that it is a considerable amount.
The small village of Chambon-su-Lignon is “famous for the extraordinary courage of its people during the Vichy regime and Nazi occupation.” The village is known for providing shelter for those in need.
“Led by the local pastor André Trocmé, the villagers protected thousands of Jews from the Nazis, hiding them in private homes and farms. When patrols came to search the village, the Jews would be hidden in the surrounding forests. When the soldiers left, the villagers would signal it was safe to come out by singing.”
Schwan was a teenager at this time and was the only son of his parents. He was sheltered in the village with his parents and his maternal grandmother.
Schwan asked that the money be used for scholarships and educational and youth initiatives.
A former mayor of the village believes that when a memorial to the villagers who sheltered the Jews opened and the history came back to Schwan and that is when he decided he wanted to give back.
See Justin Huggler, Jewish man bequeaths nearly £2m to French village that sheltered him from the Nazis as a child, Yahoo News, January 29, 2021.
Special thanks to David S. Luber (Florida Probate Attorney) for bringing this article to my attention.