JEWISH AND RESISTANCE FIGHTER IN VAUCLUSE

During this study about the Hunt for the Jews in Vaucluse, we often faced a lack of knowledge about the period. In some cases, it has however been possible to measure the power of the enemy and thus better understand the forces of evil encircling the Jews. For instance, we have been able to reconstruct by cross-checking of the archives  the functioning of the Parti Populaire Français, which included some members at the forefront of the persecution of the Jews.

But there is another problem area as decisive in its teachings which has to do with the organization of the Resistance in Vaucluse. In spite of the small number of detailed contemporary documents, we observe, at the end of this work, a Jewish participation in the Resistance far beyond their proportion in the local population of  Vaucluse. Out of a population estimated between 1500 and 2000 Jews (including children), we found more than 50 who took part in the struggle. This number is likely to grow.

This takes us far away from the common clichés of "the sheep taken to the slaughterhouse”. These Jews did not create a separate Jewish Resistance movement. French or foreigners, they joined the existing interior Resistance organizations whose objective was the liberation of France.

Understanding all the reasons which drove them to partake in this struggle remains a open question about this period. And today, we still care about it. Any information about the journey of these Jewish Resistance fighters is precious. We already have a lot of information about the best known ones:

Max Fischer, co-founder of Maquis Ventoux

Georges Mannberger, head of Mouvement Combat for the district of Carpentras

Léon Zyngerman, right hand man of René Char at the landing-parachuting section of Ceyreste.

But amongst those unknown in the archives, there are some who undoubtedly deserve our attention.

Bernard Weisz would be grateful to be contacted in case your testimony can shed new light, be it the dimmest one, on this history of the Jews in the Vaucluse Resistance. His e-mail address : carriero84@laposte.net

With our deepest thanks.

French