Through the Morgue Door BY Colette Brull-Ulmann And Jean-Christophe Portes

In 1934, Colette Brull-Ulmann, just fourteen, aspired to become a pediatrician. By twenty-one, she was a medical student. However, by 1942, her world had drastically changed; her family, registered as Jews, faced severe persecution under Petain’s government in Nazi-occupied France. Her father was detained in the Drancy camp, while Brull-Ulmann worked at Rothschild Hospital, the sole facility in Paris where Jewish physicians could practice and Jewish patients were treated.

At the hospital, Brull-Ulmann met Claire Heyman, a social worker leading a covert network to rescue Jewish children. Inspired by Heyman, Brull-Ulmann risked her life smuggling children to safety, often navigating the perilous streets of Paris at night. Her courage shone as she confronted Nazi officers and unsympathetic doctors. In 1943, she was forced to flee Rothschild Hospital, joining her father’s resistance efforts and gathering intelligence for De Gaulle’s agency until the end of World War II.

After the war, Brull-Ulmann continued her medical studies, becoming a licensed pediatrician in 1970. For years, she kept her wartime experiences private, but eventually began sharing her story, including the profound impact of one particular child she rescued.

Originally published in French in 2017, Brull-Ulmann’s memoir sheds light on the often-overlooked role of the Rothschild Hospital during the Holocaust. It is a poignant account of Jewish life under occupation and a tribute to a remarkable woman whose bravery and commitment to saving lives never wavered. The memoir is a vital historical document and an inspiring testament to resilience and compassion in the darkest times.