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The initiative to bring the children of German resistance members to Switzerland was not part of the Swiss relief effort that saw 44,000 malnourished youngsters come to the country. In this picture, children prepare to depart from Cologne. (Walter Dick)
Walter Dick
The children returned to Germany a few months later, healthier and carrying provisions from Switzerland for their families. (Walter Dick)
Walter Dick
The "resistance children" as they were known by staff in the home in Habkern, shared the accommodation with Swiss kids, and youngsters from other countries, including the Netherlands and France. (Forschungsgemeinschaft 20 Juli 1944)
The "Maiezyt" home looks the same today as it did then. It is now a working farm, and the building is rented out for seminars and other events. (swissinfo.ch, Dale Bechtel)
swissinfo.ch
One of the former staff members, Marie Maler (right), meets Dorothea von Plettenberg again after more than 60 years. (swissinfo.ch, Dale Bechtel)
swissinfo.ch
Two of the guests from Germany share memories with Thüring von Erlach (left), whose family played host to one of the "resistance children". (swissinfo.ch, Dale Bechtel)
swissinfo.ch
Thüring von Erlach's family took in Alfred von Hofacker. This is his travel document from the time. (Alfred von Hofacker)
Alfred von Hofacker
Von Erlach sent this picture of himself (right), standing alongside his mother and brother, to von Hofacker after the German returned home. (Alfred von Hofacker)
Alfred von Hofacker
Alfred von Hofacker today. (swissinfo.ch, Dale Bechtel)
swissinfo.ch
An image of von Hofacher's father, Cäsar von Hofacher, who played an instrumental role in the short-lived coup attempt in France. (German Resistance Memorial Center)
German Resistance Memorial Center
The sons and daughters of the German resistance revisit their "Swiss" homes.
This content was published on
November 1, 2009 - 07:19
Swiss doctor, Albert von Erlach, brought the children of members of the German resistance which failed to assassinate Hitler in 1944 to Switzerland to recuperate after the war.
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