George Falk

George Falk is the son of Benjamin and Blanka Falek, who were originally from Poland. They honeymooned and lived in Spain, where his father ran an export business – until the Spanish Civil War caused them to flee to Paris. But they were not free from war in France, because Nazi Germany invaded in 1940 when George was just three years old. Jews were not safe staying in Paris. They moved to a small village in southwest France, but soon found it was also not safe. Benjamin escaped by walking through the Pyrenees on known Freedom Trails, but it was not safe for a young child.

With the help of a Polish friend, George and his mother moved to the small town of Yssingeaux. There, they disguised themselves as French Catholics to evade the Gestapo, collaborators, and Nazis. Through the creativity and endurance of his mother and Mr. Noel Barrot, a "Righteous Gentile," they survived.

In May of…