Yvonne Nèvejean coordinated the clandestine protection of approximately 4,000 Jewish children during the occupation of Belgium. Operating through her position at the National Agency for Children, she utilized an existing network of institutions and private families to shield minors from deportation. Her efforts provided a sustained system of safety despite constant pressure from the Gestapo throughout the conflict.
Academic Background and Early Career
Born in 1900 in Gentbrugge, Ghent, Nèvejean pursued her higher education at the University of Ghent. She subsequently moved to the New York State University to complete a Master of Arts in Social and Political sciences. Following her return to Belgium in 1928, she accepted a position at the Oeuvre Nationale de l'Enfance, or the National Agency for Children. This entity managed a widespread series of children's homes across the country, providing Nèvejean with the infrastructure she would later repurpose.
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In the summer of 1942, the persecution of Jewish residents in Belgium escalated. Nèvejean was contacted by the Comité de Défence des Juifs en Belgique, an underground organization established by Hertz Jospa, to assist in the protection of children separated from their parents. Working primarily through her management of the National Agency for Children, she orchestrated the placement of minors into religious institutions and private households. While the Jewish underground provided initial capital, Nèvejean secured additional financial resources from various banks, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Belgian government operating in exile from London.
Resistance and Recognition
The Gestapo attempted to dismantle these rescue networks, leading to the arrest of multiple individuals. Nèvejean maintained the operation by collaborating with figures such as the Queen Mother Elizabeth and Leon Platteau from the Ministry of Justice, as well as Father Joseph André from Namur. Her actions were officially acknowledged in 1965 when Yad Vashem designated her as Righteous Among the Nations. Following her death in 1987, she continued to be honored, notably in 1996 when the Belgian government issued a stamp featuring her likeness.
Fast facts
- Born: 1900, Gentbrugge
- Died: 1987
- Citizenship: Belgium
- Education: University of Ghent, New York State University
- Primary Organization: National Agency for Children (ONE)
- Righteous Among the Nations: 1965
- Estimated lives saved: 4,000
Questions readers ask
What was Yvonne Nèvejean's role in the National Agency for Children?
She rose to become the head of the organization, which allowed her to utilize their network of children's homes for rescue operations.
How did Nèvejean fund the rescue of Jewish children?
Funding was provided by the Jewish underground, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, banks, and the Belgian government in exile.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1965
- Worked as human rights defender
