Rescue and Aid in France, 1940-1944 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Both collections share historic commonalities related to the experience of Jewish refugees to France during the Holocaust. Complicity of the French collaborating authorities in the Holocaust has been for long minimized by postwar French society. Only recently this theme has become public and the subject of discussion. The role of French gendarmerie, formally independent until 1942, and later incorporated into the auxiliary to the German police and security forces was crucial in the implementation of the Final Solution in France.
In theory, measures of the Vichy government applied to all of France. However, only in unoccupied France could the new government actually govern autonomously. Officially neutral, Vichy France collaborated closely with Germany. Under Petain and Laval, the Vichy government followed a nationalist and “pre-French Revolutionary” agenda, replacing the ideals of “liberty, equality, and fraternity” with “work, family, and country.”
In March 1941, the Vichy government created a central agency, the General Commissariat for Jewish Affairs, to coordinate anti-Jewish legislation and policy. Anxious to ensure that material goods and assets confiscated from the Jewish population did not fall into German hands, the Laval government, in July 1941, instituted an extensive program of "Aryanization," appropriating Jewish-owned property for the French state. Aryanization left most Jews in France destitute, affecting foreign Jews particularly severely. French authorities interned thousands of Jews under deplorable conditions in French-administered detention camps -- Gurs, Saint-Cyprien, Rivesaltes, Le Vernet, and Les Milles -- where at least 3,000 individuals died during the war years.
Deportations of Jews from France in the summer and fall of 1942 spurred significant protest within the Catholic Church, a mainstay of the Petain regime, and among the general population. The brutal nature of the roundups, such as the actions and incarceration in the Velodrome d'Hiver, stirred public anger. The initial decision to separate children from their families during the deportation process met with particular criticism.
The calculated strategy of the Vichy administration to collaborate with German deportation efforts in order to gain more independence for unoccupied France had failed. The Petain government's willingness to surrender foreign Jews in hopes of shielding French Jewish nationals had increasingly obligated Vichy officials to fill all deportation quotas demanded by German authorities, who did not concern themselves with the niceties of nationality and citizenship.
The documents of these collections corroborate division in French society. It was a moral challenge for French people to see the foreign Jews as their neighbors. Both family histories emphasize that rescue and aid overpowered complicity and collaboration. We, however, shall remember that it was not always the case and the number of unfortunate people perhaps exceeded those who managed to survive.
RG-44.01.01, Letter of Nathaniel Prins from prison to his French neighbor Chambron with a postscript in pencil added before the deportation to Drancy. Dated by 31 January 1943.
RG-44.01.01.01, Provenance text written by Ms. Prins-Hyatt
RG-44.01.02, Postcard with a view of Lisbon
RG-44.01.03, Postcard, Lisbon
RG-44.01.04, Letter from the Mayoral Office of Lamastre certifying that Nathan Prins after spending two months in prison was deported to Drancy in March 1943 in French.
RG-44.01.05, Esther Prins (mother of Betty Prins-Hyatt passport) issued in the Netherlands with the marks of entering and living in France in 1942.
RG-44.01.06, Nathaniel and Ester Prins wedding photograph
RG-44.01.07, Food rationing stamps on two pages
RG-44.02, Marie Kaufman Papers
The Marie Kaufman Papers collection includes photographs and documents from
RG-44.02.01, Family Documents Book
RG-44.02.01.01, family document book
RG-44.02.01.02, records of salary 1944-1946
RG-44.02.01.03, Marriage License
RG-44.02.01.04, Marriage certificate
RG-44.02.01.05, draft card for the military
RG-44.02.01.06, Certificate of military position
RG-44.02.01.07, translation of the declaration concerning the reclamation of French citizenship
RG-44.02.01.08, Certificate-of-residence
RG-44.02.01.09, correspondences from Krakow to Paris
RG-44.02.02, Additional documents
RG-44.02.02.01, California Driver License
RG-44.02.02.02, California-Driver-License-back
RG-44.02.02.03, Certificate of Naturalization
RG-44.02.02.04, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Helene-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.05, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Helene-Kaufman-back
RG-44.02.02.06, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Marie-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.07, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Marie-Kaufman-back
RG-44.02.02.08, Graduation-photo
RG-44.02.02.09, ID-card-Michel-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.10, ID-card-Michel-Kaufman-exterior
RG-44.02.02.11, Naturalization-certificate-of-Dobra-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.12, Naturalization-certificate-of-Michel-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.13, Permit-to-Reenter-the-United-States
RG-44.02.02.14, Photograph-of-Abram-Zajdner
RG-44.02.02.15, Photograph-of-Abram-Zajdner-back
RG-44.02.02.16, Photograph-of-Fannie-and-Berre-Moskowitz
RG-44.02.02.17, Photograph-of-Fannie-and-Berre-Moskowitz-back
RG-44.02.02.18, Photograph-of-Marinette-in-school
RG-44.02.02.19, Photograph-of-Marinette-in-school-back
RG-44.02.02.20, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-2
RG-44.02.02.21, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-3
RG-44.02.02.22, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-4
RG-44.02.02.23, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-5
RG-44.02.02.24, Photograph-of-Wolf-and-Rose-Moskovitch,-Berre-and-Fanni-Moskovitch,-Henri-and-Jeanette-Moraud
RG-44.02.02.25, Photograph-of-Wolf-and-Rose-Moskovitch,-Berre-and-Fanni-Moskovitch,-Henri-and-Jeanette-Moraud-back
RG-44.02.02.26, Receipt voucher of Declaration Concerning the Reclamation of the French Citizenship
RG-44.02.02.27, Regiment-of-Foreign-Volunteers-certificate
RG-44.02.02.28, Regiment-of-Foreign-Volunteers-certificate-back
RG-44.02.02.29, Translation-of-the-Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship
RG-44.02.02.30, Translation-of-the-Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-back
RG-44.02.02.31, Personnel-register
RG-44.02.02.32, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-on-my-father's-(Michel)-mother's-side-(Hinda Rozenberg)
RG-44.02.03, Photographs
RG-44.02.03.01, 1949-classroom
RG-44.02.03.02, Abraham-Zaidner-and-Fenya-Wax
RG-44.02.03.03, Abram-Zadjner-in-1935-in-front-of-portraits-and-sculpture
RG-44.02.03.04, Abram-Zadjner-painting-violinist
RG-44.02.03.05, Abram-Zadjner-sculptures-by-the-river
RG-44.02.03.06, Adlerblum-and-Moskowitz-family-photo
RG-44.02.03.07, Anna-and-Betszaler
RG-44.02.03.08, Anna-at-Ball-in-Paris
RG-44.02.03.09, Anna-in-Kalicz
RG-44.02.03.10, Anna-in-Kalicz-in-field
RG-44.02.03.11, Anna-in-park-in-Busko
RG-44.02.03.12, Armand-Marinette-Helene-and-Thimory
RG-44.02.03.13, Armant-Zadjner-and-Marie-Moszkowiez
RG-44.02.03.14, boy-drawing-a-portrait-of-another-man
RG-44.02.03.15, Bronka-and-two-other-girls-in-photo
RG-44.02.03.16, Christiane-Alary-daughter-of-et-Ernest-et-and-Paule-Alary
RG-44.02.03.17, Family-Photo
RG-44.02.03.18, Family-photo-on-Papa's-side
RG-44.02.03.19, family-photo-parents-and-two-girls-one-holding-ball
RG-44.02.03.20, family-photo-postcard-of-wolf
RG-44.02.03.21, Fruma-Paula's-Daughter
RG-44.02.03.22, Gaston-and-Helene-Andrieu
RG-44.02.03.23, Grandparents-with-Michel-and-Fela-Kaufman
RG-44.02.03.24, Helene-Anna-Abrahm-and-Paula-family-photo
RG-44.02.03.25, Hiline-Kaufman-Marie's-sister
RG-44.02.03.26, Marie-Kaufman-before-America
RG-44.02.03.27, Marie-Pierrot-Madeleine-et-Jeannot-Andrieu
RG-44.02.03.28, Marie-Zadjner-Kalinski
RG-44.02.03.29, Marinette-and-Helen-Kaufman
RG-44.02.03.30, Michel-Kaufman-photo-with-three-others
RG-44.02.03.31, Papa-and-friend-in-paris
RG-44.02.03.32, Paris-Passport-Shot
RG-44.02.03.33, Passport-photo-1950
RG-44.02.03.34, photo-of-Anna-in-Gordonia-organization
RG-44.02.03.35, Photo-of-Anna's-sister
RG-44.02.03.36, photo-of-Anna's-Stepfather-Stepsister-and-Mother
RG-44.02.03.37, photo-of-boy-in-dress-jacket
RG-44.02.03.38, photo-of-Ernest-and-Paule
RG-44.02.03.39, Photo-of-Great-Grandmother-on Papa's-Side
RG-44.02.03.40, photo-of-group-of-women-with-flag-with-a-boat-on-it
RG-44.02.03.41, photo-of-Henri's-parents
RG-44.02.03.42, photo-of-M.-Cornus
RG-44.02.03.43, photo-of-man-in-sweater-and-dress-shirt
RG-44.02.03.44, photo-of-Marie-Kaufman-at-8-months
RG-44.02.03.45, photo-of-mother-and-Anna
RG-44.02.03.46, photo-of-rows-of-men-and-women
RG-44.02.03.47, photo-of-three-people-November-20-1934
RG-44.02.03.48, photo-of-three-women-Feb-2-1933
RG-44.02.03.49, six-people-around-a-hebrew-tombstone
RG-44.02.03.50, Tanta-Fela-in-Poland
RG-44.02.03.51, Tante-Fela-at-18
RG-44.02.03.52, three-children-in-yard-in-front-of-a-tree
RG-44.02.03.53, three-people-around-hebrew-tombstone
RG-44.02.03.54, Two-adults-and-two-childeren-in-yard
RG-44.02.03.55, two-children-one-on-a-rocking-horse
RG-44.02.03.56, two-girls-with-arms-around-each-other
RG-44.02.03.57, Tzvi-Wolf-and-Anna
RG-44.02.03.58, woman-in-bathingsuit
RG-44.02.03.59, woman-next-to-vase-of-flowers
RG-44.02.03.60, woman-walking-on-the-street-with-a-little-girl
Author: staffNo restrictions
Copyrighted materials, credits to and references to the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust are required
Digital copies might be available upon request
Documents and Files:
RG-44.01.01, Letter of Nathaniel Prins from prison dated 31 January 1943
RG-44.01.01.01, Provenance text written by Ms. Prins-Hyatt
RG-44.01.02, Postcard with a view of Lisbon
RG-44.01.03, Postcard, Lisbon
RG-44.01.04, Letter from mayoral office of Lamastre cetifying arrest and deporation of Nathan Prins
RG-44.01.05, Betty Prins-Hyatt mother passport
RG-44.01.06, wedding photograph, Nathaniel Prins and Esther Prins, the parents of Betty Prins-Hyatt
RG-44.01.07, Food rationing stamps
RG-44.02.01.01, family document book
RG-44.02.01.02, records of salary 1944-1946
RG-44.02.01.03, Marriage License
RG-44.02.01.04, Marriage certificate
RG-44.02.01.05, draft card for the military
RG-44.02.01.06, Certificate of military position
RG-44.02.01.07, translation of the declaration concerning the reclamation of French citizenship
RG-44.02.01.08, Certificate-of-residence
RG-44.02.01.09, correspondences from Krakow to Paris
RG-44.02.02.01, Michel Kaufman, California Driver License
RG-44.02.02.02, Michel Kaufman, California-Driver-License-back
RG-44.02.02.03, Michel Kaufman, Certificate of Naturalization
RG-44.02.02.04, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Helene-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.06, Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-Marie-Kaufman
RG-44.02.02.08, Marie Kaufman, Graduation-photo
RG-44.02.02.09, French ID card, issued to Michel-Kaufman, 1947,
RG-44.02.02.10, French ID card, issued to Michel-Kaufman, 1947, exterior
RG-44.02.02.11, French naturalization document, issued to Kaufman, nee Zadner, 1947
RG-44.02.02.12, French naturalization document issued to Michel Kaufman, 1948
RG-44.02.02.13, Permit-to-Reenter-the-United-States
RG-44.02.02.14, Photograph-of-Abram-Zajdner
RG-44.02.02.15, Photograph-of-Abram-Zajdner-back
RG-44.02.02.16, Photograph-of-Fannie-and-Berre-Moskowitz
RG-44.02.02.17, Photograph-of-Fannie-and-Berre-Moskowitz-back
RG-44.02.02.18, Photograph-of-Marinette-in-school
RG-44.02.02.19, Photograph-of-Marinette-in-school-back
RG-44.02.02.20, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-2
RG-44.02.02.21, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-3
RG-44.02.02.22, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-4
RG-44.02.02.23, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-5
RG-44.02.02.24, Photograph-of-Wolf-and-Rose-Moskovitch,-Berre-and-Fanni-Moskovitch,-Henri-and-Jeanette-Moraud
RG-44.02.02.25, Photograph-of-Wolf-and-Rose-Moskovitch,-Berre-and-Fanni-Moskovitch,-Henri-and-Jeanette-Moraud-back
RG-44.02.02.26, Receipt voucher of Declaration Concerning the Reclamation of the French Citizenship
RG-44.02.02.27, Regiment-of-Foreign-Volunteers-certificate
RG-44.02.02.28, Regiment-of-Foreign-Volunteers-certificate-back
RG-44.02.02.29, Translation-of-the-Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship
RG-44.02.02.30, Translation-of-the-Declaration-Concerning-the-Reclamation-of-the-French-Citizenship-back
RG-44.02.02.31, Personnel-register
RG-44.02.02.32, Photograph-of-Rozenberg-family-on-my-father's-(Michel)-mother's-side-(Hinda Rozenberg)
RG-44.02.02.33, Copy of Copy of MK-Batch-2-sheet (2)
RG-44.02.02.34, Copy of Copy of MK-Batch-2-sheet
RG-44.02.02.35, Marie Kaufman Photographs
RG-44.02.03.01, 1949-classroom, France, 1949
RG-44.02.03.02, Abraham-Zaidner-and-Fenya-Wax
RG-44.02.03.03, Abram-Zadjner-in-1935-in-front-of-portraits-and-sculpture
RG-44.02.03.04, Abram-Zadjner-painting-violinist
RG-44.02.03.05, Abram-Zadjner-sculptures-by-the-river
RG-44.02.03.06, Adlerblum-and-Moskowitz-family-photo
RG-44.02.03.07, Anna-and-Betszaler
RG-44.02.03.08, Anna, at the reception in Paris
RG-44.02.03.09, Anna-in-Kalisz
RG-44.02.03.10, Anna-in-Kalisz-in-field
RG-44.02.03.11, Anna-in-park-in-Busko
RG-44.02.03.12, Armand-Marinette-Helene-and-Thimory
RG-44.02.03.13, Armant-Zadjner-and-Marie-Moszkowiez
RG-44.02.03.14, boy-drawing-a-portrait-of-another-man
RG-44.02.03.15, Bronka-and-two-other-girls-in-photo
RG-44.02.03.16, Christiane-Alary-daughter-of-et-Ernest-et-and-Paule-Alary
RG-44.02.03.17, Family-Photo
RG-44.02.03.18, Family-photo-on-Papa's-side
RG-44.02.03.19, family-photo-parents-and-two-girls-one-holding-ball
RG-44.02.03.20, family-photo-postcard-of-wolf
RG-44.02.03.21, Fruma-Paula's-Daughter
RG-44.02.03.22, Gaston-and-Helene-Andrieu
RG-44.02.03.23, Grandparents-with-Michel-and-Fela-Kaufman
RG-44.02.03.24, Helene-Anna-Abrahm-and-Paula-family-photo
RG-44.02.03.25, Hiline-Kaufman-Marie's-sister
RG-44.02.03.26, Marie-Kaufman-before-America
RG-44.02.03.27, Marie-Pierrot-Madeleine-et-Jeannot-Andrieu
RG-44.02.03.28, Marie-Zadjner-Kalinski
RG-44.02.03.29, Marinette-and-Helen-Kaufman
RG-44.02.03.30, Michel-Kaufman-photo-with-three-others
RG-44.02.03.31, Papa-and-friend-in-paris
RG-44.02.03.32, Paris-Passport-Shot
RG-44.02.03.33, Passport-photo-1950
RG-44.02.03.34, photo-of-Anna-in-Gordonia-organization
RG-44.02.03.35, Photo-of-Anna's-sister
RG-44.02.03.36, photo-of-Anna's-Stepfather-Stepsister-and-Mother
RG-44.02.03.37, photo-of-boy-in-dress-jacket
RG-44.02.03.38, photo-of-Ernest-and-Paule
RG-44.02.03.39, Photo-of-Great-Grandmother-on Papa's-Side
RG-44.02.03.40, photo-of-group-of-women-with-flag-with-a-boat-on-it
RG-44.02.03.41, photo-of-Henri's-parents
RG-44.02.03.42, photo-of-M.-Cornus
RG-44.02.03.43, photo-of-man-in-sweater-and-dress-shirt
RG-44.02.03.44, photo-of-Marie-Kaufman-at-8-months
RG-44.02.03.45, photo-of-mother-and-Anna
RG-44.02.03.46, photo-of-rows-of-men-and-women
RG-44.02.03.47, photo-of-three-people-November-20-1934
RG-44.02.03.48, photo-of-three-women-Feb-2-1933
RG-44.02.03.49, six-people-around-a-hebrew-tombstone
RG-44.02.03.50, Tanta-Fela-in-Poland
RG-44.02.03.51, Tante-Fela-at-18
RG-44.02.03.52, three-children-in-yard-in-front-of-a-tree
RG-44.02.03.53, three-people-around-hebrew-tombstone
RG-44.02.03.54, Two-adults-and-two-childeren-in-yard
RG-44.02.03.55, two-children-one-on-a-rocking-horse
RG-44.02.03.56, two-girls-with-arms-around-each-other
RG-44.02.03.57, Tzvi-Wolf-and-Anna
RG-44.02.03.58, woman-in-bathingsuit
RG-44.02.03.59, woman-next-to-vase-of-flowers
RG-44.02.03.60, woman-walking-on-the-street-with-a-little-girl