Generations Repeating History: Great-grandchildren Follow Ancestral Footsteps to Escape Nazis

Descendants of those who escaped Nazi-occupied France by crossing the perilous Pyrenees mountains during World War II are retracing their ancestors' footsteps on the annual Freedom Trail. The trek serves as a walking memorial, honoring the hundreds of thousands of resistance fighters, civilians, Jews, allied soldiers, and escaped prisoners of war who evaded Nazi pursuers. The journey holds deep personal significance for the descendants, who reflect on their relatives' bravery and sacrifice while forging connections with local families who aided their ancestors. The walk also highlights the shared history between France and Spain, as the Pyrenees served as an escape route for both World War II refugees and Republican refugees fleeing Franco's rule at the end of the Spanish Civil War.