xx Introduction Jewish Rescuers of Jews Jews also rescued Jews in France during World War II. This was, of course, extremely dangerous. All Jews—rescuers and rescued alike—were subject to the threat of arrest and deportation, and many Jews who protected others were killed by the Nazis. Jewish activists created networks that rescued thousands of other Jews, often working alongside non-Jews for the common good. Sometimes Jewish rescuers could be found among underground fighting groups in all, across Europe there were more than 200 active Jewish rescue organizations. Some were deep in the heart of occupied territory, whereas others operated outside of the Nazi grip. Hundreds of Jews participated in these rescues, risking their lives on both an organizational and an individual level, assisting in smug- gling and hiding activities, obtaining or creating false documentation, pro- viding food and medical supplies, warning their fellow Jews about impending actions and deportations, establishing welfare societies, and harboring chil- dren in orphanages. Some Jews came out of hiding to rescue other Jews others, given an opportunity to escape, delayed their departure, knowingly putting them- selves in danger to save both family members and complete strangers. Many paid with their own lives to ensure that others might live. It is important to realize, in this context, that rescue was itself a form of resistance: an active, ongoing process of opposition to all aspects of life as intended by the Nazis. It could take many forms and arise over any issue. It was as much an attitude as a physical process, and it sought to negate the commands, rules, intentions, actions, statements, and deprivations imposed by the occupiers. Its numerous forms enabled men and women to take some measure of control over their fates in an environment in which survival and success were in no way guaranteed. Every act of assistance, encouragement, and cooperation that took place disproved the claim that an attitude of self- reliance could not be maintained, and individuals, groups, and resistance movements all sought to establish and maintain this attitude. Rescuing was existential. Though many might think that the term “res- cue” implies Allied action to save Jews as part of the war effort, there is much to show that both Jews and non-Jews under occupation tried hard to take charge of the business of saving Jewish lives themselves without external help or hindrance. Every attempt at rescue was an expression of Jewish defi- ance, a challenge to the Nazi view that Jews would not, and could not, fight back. In France, Jewish involvement in the Resistance was more than just armed insurgency—though it was certainly that, too. The underground net- works were not only vitally important for waging a clandestine war against the Germans and their collaborators they also enabled brave French resist- ers, for the most part young people, to smuggle Jews across borders. This was
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