Francisca Anna Zwarts

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Johannes Bernardus Zwarts
Moeder: Anna Maria Rikkelman
Geboren: 31 OKT 1898 Amsterdam
Overleden: 11 Dec 1989 Amsterdam
Beroep: houdster rijwielzaak
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Hillebrand
First Name: Francisca Anna
Maiden Name: Zwarts
Date of Birth: 31/10/1898
Date of death: 11/12/1989
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/10747)
Francisca Hillebrand, b.1898, was living with her three sons aged 16 to 20, in the Valeriusstraat, the southern district of Amsterdam, where many Jews lived as well. They operated a moving business as well as a bicycle repair shop under their living quarters. Francisca’s husband was a supporter of the National Socialist Movement (NSB), whereas the sons became active in a local underground cell. As a result of serious family tensions, the husband left home early on in the occupation of the country. In February 1943, Arnold Levi and his wife Renée (née Reens), also of Amsterdam, needed an urgent place to hide. They initially sought a place for their two small children, Yvonne, b.1942 and her brother Luc, b.1938. The parents turned to a non-Jewish friend, active in the same underground cell as Francesca’s sons, through whom connection was made with the Hillebrand family. And so, Yvonne, of the two, was taken to Francesca’s home, where she stayed until the liberation of the city in May 1945. Yvonne was supposedly a niece of the family, and grew up as the baby sister for Francesca’s children. She called Francesca, “Mama”. She was kept upstairs in the living quarters, since a large number of Germans frequented the shop below. Yvonne’s parents were caught in their own hiding place in July 1944 and deported to Theresienstadt. On February 5, 1945, with Himmler’s endorsement for pragmatic reasons, 1,200 Jewish inmates were transferred by train to Switzerland. Among the 400 Dutch Jews liberated were also the Levi parents. After their return to the Netherlands, they found their daughter Yvonne in excellent condition in a very loving environment. The return to live with her biological parents was difficult for Yvonne, but she was able to stay in close touch with her rescuers.
On December 26, 2005, Yad Vashem recognized Francisca Anna Hillebrand-Zwarts as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Marinus Hendrikus Hillebrand geb. 10 Nov 1899 overl. 31 MRT 1975
Huwelijk: 25 Aug 1920 Amsterdam
Scheiding: 28 Feb 1946 Amsterdam
Kinderen:
  Bernard Johan Hillebrand Female geb. 24 OKT 1923 overl. 16 Nov 1987
  Marinus Hendrikus Hillebrand Female geb. 13 Apr 1922 overl. 19 Jan 1995
  Johan Hendrik Hillebrand Female geb. 16 Jan 1926 overl. 9 MEI 1999