Language:
French
Year of publication:
2015
Titel der Quelle:
Le Débat; histoire, politique, société
Angaben zur Quelle:
183 (2015) 173-181
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
France Politics and government 1940-1945
Abstract:
Discusses French historian Jacques Semelin's views on the "French paradox" - the fact that although Nazi Germany, aided by the antisemitic Vichy regime, deported a large number of Jews from France, the number remained proportionally smaller than in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. Semelin argues, mainly in "Persécutions et entraides dans la France occupée" (2013), that many Jews were rescued through aid from the civilian population and various organizations, with the support of a generally empathic public opinion. Paxton rejects Semelin's suggestion that the French aided the Jews more than people in other Western European countries, and argues that Semelin's definition of "aid" is too wide. Sympathy toward the Jews was not the general rule. Paxton also criticizes Semelin for focusing on the admittedly negative attitude of the French to the deportations which began in 1942, and for underestimating the strength of antisemitism prior to that or believing that antisemitism was duly balanced by compassion. Semelin also underestimates the effect of the general animosity toward refugees during the 1930s. Paxton presents his own views on factors which contibuted to the rescue of many Jews in France, such as the existence of wild nature and an unoccupied zone, where rescue organizations functioned. He also criticizes Semelin for rejecting a comparison between France and Italy, where only 16% of the Jews were deported, but rather choosing the Netherlands and Norway as comparisons in order for France to appear in a more favorable light.
Note:
Appeared previously in "The New York Review of Books" March 6th (2014).
URL:
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