Collaboration and Resistance
1920s = France wanted immigrants 1931 = 3,000,000 foreign residents 1930s = effects of Great Depression 1934 = ban on foreigners from civil service jobs ◦ could only get the job after 10 years as a citizen 1935 = mass protests against foreign students ◦ BUT, no quotas! Right-wing French gov’ts accelerated anti- foreigner sentiment after 1934 . . . ◦ Pierre Laval (Prime Minister of France, 1931-1932; 1935-1936; 1940; 1942-1944) ◦ Pierre-Etienne Flandin (Prime Minister of France, 1934-1935; 1940-1941) France is a transitory state for immigrants . . . Reaction of Julien Weill (1873-1950) ◦ Chief Rabbi of Paris ◦ “France has already done more than any other country in the world, and can no longer welcome new immigrants.” ◦ Worried about what an influx of Jews might do to French political culture . . . Summer 1938 = pamphlet on Jewish behavior ◦ Published by Committee for Refugee Assistance ◦ Working to avoid provoking antisemitism . . . Be polite, discreet, modest Avoid French politics Learn French and assimilate Most Jewish leaders wanted loosened immigration in France ◦ Leon Blum (French Prime Minister, 1936-1938) Problem of paperwork Visa-less Jews arrested Not focused on new refugees . . . ◦ Focus on legalizing status of current refugees ◦ Focus on getting refugees released from prison The problem of a criminal record 22 June 1940 = France & Germany sign cease-fire France split into two:
22 June 1940 = France & Germany sign cease-fire France split into two: ◦ Vichy France = conservative, authoritarian Led by Pétain ◦ Occupied France Ruled by Nazis June 1940 = 300,000 Jews in France ◦ 60,000 in the military What to do with Vichy’s refugee Jews? 27 September 1940 = Nazis: no more Jews from Vichy to occupied zone Jewish internment ◦ 50,000 interned by January 1941 ◦ Gurs June 1942 = yellow star decree in occupied zone 30 June 1942 = Eichmann in Paris ◦ Problems getting the French to deport French Jews . . . In occupied France: ◦ 16 June 1942 @ 4 AM = Police sweep Paris ◦ By 17 June @ 5 PM = 12,884 Jews arrested ◦ Jews held in Drancy (and the Vélodrome)
June 1942 = yellow star decree in occupied zone 30 June 1942 = Eichmann in Paris ◦ Problems getting the French to deport French Jews . . . In occupied France: ◦ 16 June 1942 @ 4 AM = Police sweep Paris ◦ By 17 June @ 5 PM = 12,884 Jews arrested ◦ Jews held in Drancy (and the Vélodrome) ◦ Problem of children August 1942 = over 3000 children arrive in Drancy In Vichy France: ◦ Sent non-citizen Jews, initially November 1942 = Nazis occupy Vichy France 1943 = French police round up French Jews ◦ Still trouble/resistance . . . Total deported = ca. 75,000 ◦ 70% = non-citizens ◦ 30% = French Jews ◦ Summer 1944 = last deportation Great Depression provoked xenophobia ◦ Esp. in universities, gov’t, civil service Even Jews were split on the problem of German-Jewish refugees France was used to antisemitism, but was also not thrilled with collaboration