Language:
French
Year of publication:
2005
Titel der Quelle:
REEH; Revue Européenne des Etudes Hébraïques
Angaben zur Quelle:
11 (2005) 85-103
Keywords:
Union générale des israélites de France
;
Jewish councils
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
France History German occupation, 1940-1945
Abstract:
Examines the role of the UGIF in occupied France (created in 1941), relating to the Nazis' intentions, the role of the Vichy government, and ambiguous Jewish reactions. The French Jews feared that the mandatory grouping together of all Jews in a central representative body would exclude them from the national community. However, they complied due to feelings of solidarity with Pétain, whom they considered incapable of collaboration with the Nazis. The Nazi terror began as the UGIF's administratrive council was being constituted; 100 "Judeo-communist" prisoners were executed and a fine of one million francs was imposed on the Jews, to be collected by the UGIF. Contends that the UGIF did not meet Nazi expectations and so, in 1943, many of its employees were arrested and deported. The organization shifted to illegal activities, rescuing children and helping Jews in hiding. Its refusal in 1943 to take over the administration of Drancy, as demanded by Alois Brunner, was punished by the arrest of vice-president André Baur. However, the UGIF continued to function under Georges Edinger's leadership. Concludes that hundreds of Jews were arrested due to the lists of UGIF. Its existence provided an illusion of legality for Nazi policies and gave the Jews a false sense of security.
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