Sonya Olschanezky
Encyclopedia
Sonya Olschanezky was a member of the French Resistance
during World War II
. The daughter of a Russian Jew, Eli Olschanezky, a chemical engineer
who worked as a sales representative for a manufacturer of ladies' stockings, she was seven years old when the family moved to Paris
, France
and her father opened a lingerie shop there. Olschanezky was a good student but her main ambition was to become a dancer, and after leaving school she worked as an au pair
.
In May 1940, France was invaded by the German Army. It was not long before Sonya had joined the French Resistance and stationed in Châlons-sur-Marne, spent her time carrying messages between Special Operations Executive
(SOE) agents in the area.
After the French surrender
, the new leader, Henri-Philippe Petain
, cooperated in the persecution of the Jews in the country. In May 1942, orders were given for all Jewish men, women and children to wear a six-pointed yellow star on their clothing over the region of the heart. The following month, Olschanezky was arrested and sent to a camp at Drancy, where she awaited being sent to an extermination camp in Nazi Germany.
When her mother heard the news, she contacted friends in Germany who managed to produce false papers that stated that she had "economically valuable skills" needed for the war effort. On the production of the false papers and the payment of a sum of money to the appropriate German official, Olschanezky was freed.
After her release, Olschanezky returned to her resistance work and in 1943 joined the Juggler sub-circuit of the Physician Network that included Andrée Borrel
, Francis Suttill
and Gilbert Norman
. The network was betrayed and most of its leading members were arrested. However, Olschanezky remained free until being captured in January 1944 and after being interrogated by the Gestapo
, she was imprisoned at Fresnes
.
On 13 May 1944, the Germans transported Sonya and seven other SOE agents, Yolande Beekman
, Eliane Plewman
, Madeleine Damerment
, Odette Sansom
, Diana Rowden
, Andrée Borrel
and Vera Leigh
, to Nazi Germany.
On 6 July 1944, Sonya along with Diana Rowden, Andrée Borrel and Vera Leigh, were taken to the concentration camp at Natzweiler. Later that day, they were injected with phenol
and put in the crematorium furnace.
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The daughter of a Russian Jew, Eli Olschanezky, a chemical engineer
Chemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
who worked as a sales representative for a manufacturer of ladies' stockings, she was seven years old when the family moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and her father opened a lingerie shop there. Olschanezky was a good student but her main ambition was to become a dancer, and after leaving school she worked as an au pair
Au pair
An au pair is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use...
.
In May 1940, France was invaded by the German Army. It was not long before Sonya had joined the French Resistance and stationed in Châlons-sur-Marne, spent her time carrying messages between Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE) agents in the area.
After the French surrender
Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)
The Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed at 18:50 on 22 June 1940 near Compiègne, in the department of Oise, between Nazi Germany and France...
, the new leader, Henri-Philippe Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
, cooperated in the persecution of the Jews in the country. In May 1942, orders were given for all Jewish men, women and children to wear a six-pointed yellow star on their clothing over the region of the heart. The following month, Olschanezky was arrested and sent to a camp at Drancy, where she awaited being sent to an extermination camp in Nazi Germany.
When her mother heard the news, she contacted friends in Germany who managed to produce false papers that stated that she had "economically valuable skills" needed for the war effort. On the production of the false papers and the payment of a sum of money to the appropriate German official, Olschanezky was freed.
After her release, Olschanezky returned to her resistance work and in 1943 joined the Juggler sub-circuit of the Physician Network that included Andrée Borrel
Andrée Borrel
Andrée Raymonde Borrel was a French heroine of World War II.-Early life:Andrée Borrel was born into a working-class family in Louveciennes, Yvelines in the suburbs of Paris, growing up an active girl who liked hiking and most other outdoor activities...
, Francis Suttill
Francis Suttill
Major Francis Alfred Suttill DSO was a British special agent who worked for the Special Operations Executive inside France. He organized and coordinated the Physician network, better known by his own code name Prosper...
and Gilbert Norman
Gilbert Norman
Gilbert Maurice Norman was born 1914 in Saint-Cloud,Hauts-de-Seine to an English father and a French mother and was educated in France and England....
. The network was betrayed and most of its leading members were arrested. However, Olschanezky remained free until being captured in January 1944 and after being interrogated by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, she was imprisoned at Fresnes
Fresnes Prison
Fresnes Prison is the second largest prison in France, located in the town of Fresnes, Val-de-Marne South of Paris...
.
On 13 May 1944, the Germans transported Sonya and seven other SOE agents, Yolande Beekman
Yolande Beekman
Yolande Beekman was a World War II spy.-Early life:...
, Eliane Plewman
Eliane Plewman
Eliane Plewman was a French SOE agent and member of French resistance.Plewman was born Eliane Browne-Bartroli in Marseille. The daughter of an English father and Spanish mother, she was educated in England and in Spain...
, Madeleine Damerment
Madeleine Damerment
Madeleine Zoe Damerment was a World War II spy.-Biography:...
, Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom Hallowes GC, MBE, Chevalier de la légion d'honneur was an Allied heroine of the Second World War.-Early years:...
, Diana Rowden
Diana Rowden
Diana Hope Rowden MBE was a Special Operations Executive member who was executed in a Nazi concentration camp.-Early life:...
, Andrée Borrel
Andrée Borrel
Andrée Raymonde Borrel was a French heroine of World War II.-Early life:Andrée Borrel was born into a working-class family in Louveciennes, Yvelines in the suburbs of Paris, growing up an active girl who liked hiking and most other outdoor activities...
and Vera Leigh
Vera Leigh
Vera Leigh was a British spy during World War II who assisted the French Resistance. In 1944 she was captured by the Germans and executed.-Early life:...
, to Nazi Germany.
On 6 July 1944, Sonya along with Diana Rowden, Andrée Borrel and Vera Leigh, were taken to the concentration camp at Natzweiler. Later that day, they were injected with phenol
Phenol
Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...
and put in the crematorium furnace.