Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France - Caroline Moorehead
Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France - Caroline Moorehead
Non-Fiction
Pages: 384
In the mountains of the Auvergne in south-central France lies the Plateau Vivarais Lignon, an isolated forested region of some 22 communes - not a single village as the title suggests. Here during WW2 proportionally more people were saved than anywhere else in France. In the grand scheme of the Holocaust, the numbers were not immense - probably no more than 800, mostly children, although some 3,000 more may have passed through on their way to safety across the borders into Switzerland and Spain. What impelled this small isolated region to hide and shelter Jewish refugees at great cost is the subject of this book, and it's a fascinating read, moving, touching and heart-rending.
Caroline Moorehead puts the entire course of the war into the context of the region of the plateau, convincingly arguing that it was no one catalyst - no single inspiring pastor or religious impulse, no brave Maquis band or influence from good German or Vichy officials. Rather, it was an immensely fortuitous combination of factors - the isolation of the region, particularly in winter when the snows cut it off completely; the profound influence of the Darbyist and Ravenist religious sects, distinguished by their culture of independence and silence; the forceful teaching of a number of Protestant pastors; the reluctance of the police, many of whom were men from local families; the pre-war reputation of the region as a place of children's homes and pensions, which meant that many of the Jewish children could hide amongst many others.
Many of the men and women in this story have been honoured by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations; many others have kept silent, not wanting to be recognised or honoured, not seeking glory or renown. The history of the plateau has in recent years becoming something of a prize to be fought over: one individual's contributions dismissed, another's lauded beyond recognition, others slandered unfairly. One hopes Caroline Moorehead's even-handed approach will settle these conflicts - this is a truly remarkable and inspiring story, and it would be a shame for it to be muddied by contention and dispute.
The history of Vichy France is a dark period in France's history, when the Vichy government frequently gave more than the Germans asked for, more and sooner. Perhaps had Vichy stood up to the Nazis more Jews in France would have survived - it is notable that on the few occasions they did baulk the Germans usually backed down. But one cannot forget that whatever the misdeeds of the government, many ordinary people did stand up, did take action, at great risk to their own lives; and there are thousands alive today, the survivors and their descendants, because of the ordinary heroism of a small group of men and women in the plateau.
Non-Fiction
Pages: 384
In the mountains of the Auvergne in south-central France lies the Plateau Vivarais Lignon, an isolated forested region of some 22 communes - not a single village as the title suggests. Here during WW2 proportionally more people were saved than anywhere else in France. In the grand scheme of the Holocaust, the numbers were not immense - probably no more than 800, mostly children, although some 3,000 more may have passed through on their way to safety across the borders into Switzerland and Spain. What impelled this small isolated region to hide and shelter Jewish refugees at great cost is the subject of this book, and it's a fascinating read, moving, touching and heart-rending.
Caroline Moorehead puts the entire course of the war into the context of the region of the plateau, convincingly arguing that it was no one catalyst - no single inspiring pastor or religious impulse, no brave Maquis band or influence from good German or Vichy officials. Rather, it was an immensely fortuitous combination of factors - the isolation of the region, particularly in winter when the snows cut it off completely; the profound influence of the Darbyist and Ravenist religious sects, distinguished by their culture of independence and silence; the forceful teaching of a number of Protestant pastors; the reluctance of the police, many of whom were men from local families; the pre-war reputation of the region as a place of children's homes and pensions, which meant that many of the Jewish children could hide amongst many others.
Many of the men and women in this story have been honoured by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations; many others have kept silent, not wanting to be recognised or honoured, not seeking glory or renown. The history of the plateau has in recent years becoming something of a prize to be fought over: one individual's contributions dismissed, another's lauded beyond recognition, others slandered unfairly. One hopes Caroline Moorehead's even-handed approach will settle these conflicts - this is a truly remarkable and inspiring story, and it would be a shame for it to be muddied by contention and dispute.
The history of Vichy France is a dark period in France's history, when the Vichy government frequently gave more than the Germans asked for, more and sooner. Perhaps had Vichy stood up to the Nazis more Jews in France would have survived - it is notable that on the few occasions they did baulk the Germans usually backed down. But one cannot forget that whatever the misdeeds of the government, many ordinary people did stand up, did take action, at great risk to their own lives; and there are thousands alive today, the survivors and their descendants, because of the ordinary heroism of a small group of men and women in the plateau.