Francisca Briër
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Frans Briër | |
| Moeder: | Maria Christina Verhave | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Shapero First Name: Francisca Maiden Name: Brier Alias: CISCA Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Place during the war: Oegstgeest, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Oegstgeest, Zuidholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1778) In early summer 1943, a priest who worked for the UKC helped relocate Cirelea (Cilly) Kanner from the predominantly Jewish Transvaalbuurt in Amsterdam to the Brier family in Oegstgeest, South Holland. Cilly, only a teenager at the time, was supposed to have remained with the Briers for only a few days before being taken to a permanent hideout. However, Maria and Frans developed an instant liking for Cilly and kindly invited her to remain with them until the occupation ended. By making this offer, the Brier family put their own lives in danger as well as the lives of their three young daughters. The eldest daughter, Francisca (Cisca), was only 11 years old at the time but nevertheless understood the gravity of the situation and was especially resourceful in helping harbor the family secret. On several occasions, Maria ventured to Amsterdam in an effort to rescue the rest of Cilly's family. These missions were fruitless and on one particular trip she narrowly escaped being arrested herself after arriving at Cilly's old home just as her grandparents were being arrested by the Grüne Polizei. Somehow, Cilly's parents managed to flee and were able to join their daughter at the Briers. The Kanner family hid in one room when the Briers had guests over to the house. The three fugitives were organized to disappear into their respective hiding places should the Gestapo turn up at the Brier's front door. An underground activist, Reinier van Kampenhout*, helped get food coupons for Maria and Frans so they could feed the three extra mouths in their household. He later arranged false identity papers for Cilly and took her to an old age home in Heemstede. On March 25, 1980, Yad Vashem recognized Frans Brier, his wife, Maria Christina Brier-Verhave, and their daughter Francisca Shapero-Brier as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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