Nurse turned smuggler. Resistance fighter and concentration camp survivor. Rose Gluck Warfman’s extraordinary life was spent doing everything in her ability to help her fellow Jew
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“Y
ou and I are going for a walk to visit a friend” the rabbi said casually. They strolled through the streets ofParis and soon arrived at their destination: Gestapo headquarters. Rose would have fled if not for the rabbi’s firm presence. “Please do not be afraid. I have friends in many useful places. Even so our success — even our lives — depends upon us acting normally.”
Guttural German accents disturbed the young Jewish girl as they walked purposefully through wide corridors. Chief Rabbi Julien Weill knocked on a door on the first floor. Behind the desk a high-ranking French Nazi dismissed the SS guard and invited the rabbi and the young girl to sit. He lifted a leather-bound folder and removed documents embossed with the Nazi emblem. Smiling he pushed them across the desk to Rose. “We need you to check that the date of birth and address are correct before you sign them.”
Wide-eyed and unable to speak Rose looked from Rabbi Weill to the Nazi officer. She steadied her hand and dipped the pen into the inkwell.
“Mademoiselle you are now in possession of the highest category of travel documents. They will enable you to travel in any part of the country” the Nazi said. He studied her for a moment then added “You are tall and have blonde hair and pretty blue eyes so passing for an Aryan girl is not a problem. From now on don’t ever forget: You are one of us. You must salute Heil Hitler wherever you go.”
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