Léon Israël

Before World War II, he pursued studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Strasbourg and quickly became a respected physician, collaborating notably with Max Aron.

[2][7] At the same time, he pursued his thesis entitled "Benzene Hemopathies"[1] and obtained it with highest honors and congratulations from the jury in 1934.

[8] In 1934, he was awarded the Prize of the Association of Students and Alumni of the Faculty of Medicine (Strasbourg) and began publishing numerous scientific articles from 1934 to 1935.

[14][15] He remained unmarried[1] and continued his medical practice until the Occupation of France, when his brother, sister-in-law, and their children decided to flee Moselle and their hometown of Yutz to seek refuge in the Zone libre.

[1] Dr. Israël followed them in 1941 and joined them in Mâcon,[16] where they were settled and hidden by the local resistance, particularly by Léon-Albert and Renée Blanvillain, Mâcon-based hardware store owners.

[1] However, starting in 1942 with Operation Anton, which concluded with the annexation of Vichy France by Nazi Germany, the hunt for Jews, which was already significant, intensified even further, forcing the Israël family into hiding.

[17] His brother Joseph, sister-in-law Annette, and 5-year-old niece Monique witnessed his summary execution, which took place near their home.

[16][23] An annual tribute is organized in Mâcon in front of the commemorative plaque on April 17, the day of the Vel d'Hiv roundup.