us-005578-irn34671-irn35926
biographical history: Steven W. Simon was born on January 22, 1932, to Arthur L., born 1896, and Irma R. Sostmann Simon in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His family immigrated to Paris, France, in March 1934. Arthur established two businesses: a faux leather and crystal import business and a specialty confectioner packaging company that featured folkloric and holiday designs created by Arthur. Steven’s maternal uncle, Kurt Sostmann, born June 22, 1904, in Mannheim, and his wife, Erna, arrived from Germany and settled nearby. Arthur applied for United States visas in 1938. His parents, Sigmund, born 1853, and Recha, born 1872, and his sister, Irma, a fashion designer and seamstress, arrived in Paris in March 1939 and lived with Arthur and his family. When World War II began in September 1939, the Simons were on vacation in La Bourboule. French officials requisitioned their car for the French army and interned Arthur Simon as an enemy alien. Steven and his mother were stranded because they did not have the special permits that non-citizens now needed to travel. They finally received permission to return home to Paris in December. The following month, January 1940, Irma sent Steven to a Quaker boarding home, Moulin de la Ferriere, in Noce, Normandy, to escape the German bombing of Paris. In early May, she retrieved him because she had to present him to the police to avoid being interned herself. On June 14, 1940, the Germans occupied Paris. Arthur was in the Les Milles camp and he volunteered for the French Foreign Legion. Since he was now in poor health, he failed his physical exam, but the French released him from the camp on August 30, 1940. He returned to his family in Paris and tried to continue his business, though his partners and staff had been arrested or disappeared and he was not permitted to travel to visit clients or to obtain stock. On August 6, 1941, the business was confiscated and its assets transferred to the Germans. In September 1941, the family hired a guide to take them t…
record resource extent: folders 4
identifier: irn35926
is or was included in: us-005578-irn34671
type: RecordSet
archival history: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
scope and content: Collection of photos, documents and notebooks relating to Steven Simon’s experiences in Eclaireurs Israelites (Jewish Scouts of France) after World War II. Steven Simon survived the Holocaust with his parents, hiding in different locations and living under false identities in France.
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn34671-irn35926/acquisitions/1
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn34671-irn35926/alternateIDs/1
has record set type: Item
title: Steven W. Simon papers
has or had holder: us-005578