Suzanne Leclézio

Suzanne Leclézio (13 September 1898 – 1 May 1987) was a Mauritian-born French resistance fighter, nurse, and railway social worker. During World War II, she worked in the French resistance with the network and alongside her partner Yvonne Ziegler, and led the "Marcadet Street Health Center" (also known as Centre d'hygiène sociale, chemin de fer du Nord) in Paris helping save Jewish families. Leclézio was also known by her French resistance code name, Georgette.

Early life and education Suzanne Leclézio was born on 13 September 1898, in Saint Pierre, British Mauritius Leclézio and Ziegler joined the resistance network together as second lieutenants. Leclézio's code name was Georgette.

The couple housed resistance fighters in their home, and started a health centre at 22 rue Marcadet, the "Marcadet Street Health Center" (also known as Centre d'hygiène sociale, chemin de fer du Nord) where they saved Jewish families and feed Jewish children in the 18th arrondissement of Paris.

Ziegler and Leclézio were denounced, and the Gestapo arrested them on 27 July 1944, at their home on Rue Boissonade. They were tortured, then taken to the Fresnes prison and imprisoned, and followed by deportation by the last convoy of political prisoners on 15 August 1944 to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Ziegler and Leclézio escaped during the death marches, and in May 1945 were liberated by the Red Army.

Upon her return, Leclézio remained the director of the Marcadet Street Health Center until 1984. Leclézio was named a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour, received the French military decorations Croix de Guerre, and the Resistance Medal.

A small park in Paris is named "Square du 21-avril-1944", in reference to the date of a nearby bombing that occurred in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, leaving 500 death, and many of the wounded had been treated at the Marcadet Street Health Center.