Sabine Zlatin (13 January 1907 – 21 September 1996), born Sabine Chwast in Warsaw, Poland, was a French Jewish resistance fighter, nurse, and painter renowned for her heroic efforts to protect Jewish children during the Holocaust. Her unwavering commitment to human rights and remembrance continues to inspire generations.
Early Life and Emigration
Growing up in a Jewish family in Warsaw, Zlatin faced pervasive antisemitism, prompting her to leave Poland in the mid-1920s. She pursued studies in art history across various European cities, eventually settling in Nancy, France, where she met and married Miron Zlatin, a Russian-Jewish agronomist. Together, they managed a successful poultry farm in Landas and became French citizens in 1939.
Wartime Resistance and the Maison d’Izieu
With the outbreak of World War II, Zlatin trained as a nurse with the Red Cross. After the establishment of the Vichy regime, she was dismissed from her hospital position due to antisemitic laws. Undeterred, she joined the Œuvre de secours aux enfants (OSE), aiding in the rescue of Jewish children from internment camps like Agde and Rivesaltes.
In 1943, recognizing the increasing danger, Zlatin secured a house in Izieu, in the then Italian-occupied zone of France, to serve as a refuge for Jewish children. The Maison d’Izieu became a sanctuary, sheltering over 100 children during its operation.
The Tragic Raid and Its Aftermath
On April 6, 1944, the Gestapo, led by Klaus Barbie, raided the Maison d’Izieu, arresting 44 children and 7 staff members. Zlatin was away at the time, seeking assistance to relocate the children. Tragically, 42 of the children and 5 adults were murdered at Auschwitz, while two teenagers and Miron Zlatin were executed in Estonia.
Post-War Efforts and Legacy
After the war, Zlatin dedicated herself to commemorating the victims and educating future generations. She testified at Klaus Barbie’s trial in 1987, providing crucial evidence of his crimes. That same year, she founded an association to transform the Maison d’Izieu into a memorial. With support from French President François Mitterrand, the memorial opened on April 4, 1994.
Zlatin’s contributions have been honored through various commemorations, including streets named after her and the establishment of the Collège Sabine-Zlatin in Belley. Her memoir, “La Dame d’Izieu,” published in 1992, offers a poignant account of her experiences and the children she sought to protect.
Sabine Zlatin passed away in Paris on September 21, 1996, leaving behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice.
