Brusselsmans, Anne

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Brusselsmans, Anne

Englishwoman who operated escape lines in Brussels during World War II. Name variations: Brusselmans.

A quiet English housewife who lived in Brussels, Anne Brusselsmans was one of the unsung heroes of World War II. For four years, from her apartment where she kept house and raised her two small children, she operated an escape line for Allied soldiers, supervising the passage of more than 150 British and American pilots out of Nazi-controlled territory. Brusselsmans, who was possessed of a quick wit and iron nerves, survived at least three searches of her apartment by the Gestapo. Of those involved in the escape network, she was the only one to avoid being killed or captured.