Joseph Weismann was born in Paris in 1931. He was arrested in the Vel' d'Hiv raid in 1942 where Jews were rounded up in Paris. His parents and two sisters were deported and killed in Auschwitz. Joseph escaped from the internment camp at age 11. He has dedicated his life to testifying about his experiences and advocating for human rights and freedom. He travels to schools in France and Europe to promote remembrance and fight against hatred and discrimination of minorities. Joseph Weismann is a good candidate for the Malala Prize because he has worked tirelessly to defend freedom and human rights through sharing his testimony.

1. Malala Prize
2015
For Freedom and Human Rights
Joseph Weismann

2. His Life
Joseph WEISMANN was born in Paris on June 19th, 1931.
He has been arrested by the French police during the Rafle du
Vel’d’Hiv, a raid on Jews in Paris on July 16th 1942, with his father, his
mother and his two sisters who were deported and murdered in the gas
chamber upon their arrival to Auschwitz.
Joseph WEISMANN escaped – at the age of 11 – from the internment
camp of Beaune-la-Rolande where he had been driven, after having
spent three days in the Vel d’Hiv, a velodrome stadium in Paris with
16000 other Jews, men, women, childrens and elders.
Joseph WEISMANN received the medal of the escapees, on July 20th,
2014, 73 years after his escape of the camp of Beaune-la-Rolande.
His story inspired the movie “The Round Up”, in French, La Rafle.
Today he lives in Le Mans, Normandy.
Pictures of the raid on July 16, 1942 and the Beaune-La Rolande camp

3. His commitment for
Human rights.
A life of testimony
Joseph WEISMANN defended the Freedom and the
Human Rights through a strong work of witness in
France and all over the world.
The publication of his book "La Rafle" is part of his
witness.
He holds in schools, in France and Europe to make
aware on a duty of remembrance. During his comings in
schools, Joseph Weismann fights against the hatreds
and the discriminations, insists on the fact that it is
necessary to be aware and vigilant in front of speech
against minorities: «Jews, Gypsies, Muslims or any
other minority".
Joseph WEISMANN in front of the
pupils of Drulingen in 2013

4. Quotations
« You are the France of tomorow and I believe in
the France you’ll be. But remember: you must not
accept the unacceptable! »
«Never accept injustice! For anyone! »
«You have the ability to fight, to take decisions and
you have a duty to further improve our beautiful
democracy».
«I believe very strong in Europe and the Franco-
German friendship! »

5. Why this candidate is a
good candidate?
Joseph Weismann is a good candidate because he
dedicated the whole part of his life to the defense of the
Freedom and to the Human Rights through testimony
that he carries from schools to schools.
In Drulingen, we’ll never forget his testimony…