Three women were rescued by sibling of Leon Degrelle

Hanna Nadel, now 86, said she, her mother and her niece were rescued by M. Cornet, the sister of Leon Degrelle, who, as leader of the Belgian Nazi Rexen movement, was responsible for deporting Jews to their deaths during the German occupation of Belgium.

Cornet  lived in Sint-Genesius Rode, by Brussels, and could use a good cook. She did not ask ask many questions to Hanna Nadel when she and her mother and her niece answered a help-wanted sign on Cornet’s door. The mother was taken on as cook and Nadel and her niece to work as chambermaids.

Being the sister of Leon Degrelle M. Cornet knew about the situation of Jews, but assured them they would not have to worry. when she had her brother or visitors associated with the Flemish Nazi movement  to routinely dine at the house, the three Jewish women hid in the basement.

Nadel’s mother would sometimes cook gefiltefish, which the lady of the house advertised to her guests as “oriental fish”, Nadel recalled.

Nadel immigrated to Israel after the war. Leon Degrelle left for Spain, where he died of old age in 1994, escaping the death sentences that his Nazi associates received back home.

Nadel’s mother would sometimes cook gefiltefish, which the lady of the house advertised to her guests as “oriental fish”, Nadel recalled.

Nadel immigrated to Israel after the war. Leon Degrelle left for Spain, where he died of old age in 1994, escaping the death sentences that his Nazi associates received back home.