I just read a story about a French village that intervened from 1940-1944 to save Jews from the Nazi holocaust. This story may be known by you, but it was all new for me. I read it with tears, admiration and pride!
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Le Chambon was located in south central France. With a history of being a refuge for persecuted Protestant Huguenots in the 17th century, it was primarily a Presbyterian town in 1940. Six years earlier Andre Trocme and his wife Magda arrived to become pastor of their church. He gradually revived the air of excitement in the deprived community, and established the first secondary school in the town. In 1938, he met Edouard Theis, who became his assistant pastor and took a position in that secondary school.
In May 1940, German Nazi forces successfully occupied the French area. On 22 June 1940, Nazis and the remaining French cabinet signed an armistice. As a result of the treaty, France was divided into two areas: the north and west area as the “Occupied Zone”, subjected to direct Nazi control, and the remaining area as the “Free Zone” [including Le Chambon], under the control of the Vichy regime of Marshal Petain. Under Nazi supervision, Petain enforced anti-Semitic laws that handed over Jews that the German government demanded.
Trocme and Theis, men guided by religious principle, thought that inaction in such time of crisis was transgressing the commandment of God. Consequently, they agreed to accommodate the Jews and establish their town as a refuge. Upon returning to Le Chambon, they preached to people, persuading them to agree with their plans. Trocme told people to “obey God rather than man when there [was] a conflict between the commandments of the government and the commandments of the Bible.”
Instead of turning their backs, most Chambonnais accommodated the Jews asking for help. The Chambonnais didn’t even bother asking the refugees their ethnic background. These Jews were hidden in various places including farms, public institutions, and private houses. The mission was not an organized one. Although Trocme and Theis took a concurrent leadership role, neither written records nor hierarchical administration existed, because people deemed it dangerous. Instead, unconventional strategies were used in order to carry out this mission.
The operation relied on accurate memories and face-to-face conversations of Chambonnais. When they sent letters to one another, encryption was used. For example, Theis printed up postcards that had a picture of Tower of Constance (the symbol that every Chambonnais knew because the tower served as a Huguenot refuge in the 17th century). As he sent the postcards, he wrote “I’m sending you five Old Testaments [Jews] today.” Moreover, Roger Darcissac, the director of the secondary school, led an effort to provide false identity cards for the Jews.
They assisted the Jews in escaping to Switzerland by train. Tickets were provided to get them to the next station where they would be hidden by locals in the resistance. The fear was that tickets bought straight to Switzerland would raise suspicion. The journey was arduous and carefully planned and executed.
At one point a German official became suspicious and demanded that the hidden Jews be turned in. Pastor Trocme refused stating that he didn’t know the names or ethnicity of the refugees. Meanwhile, he sent a group of Boy Scouts to the surrounding farms instructing the Jews to flee to the wooded areas for safety. Two were eventually discovered; one was released because he was only half Jewish.
This humble, obedient town eventually saved the lives of nearly 5,000 Jews!
[Heavy dependence on https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/french-christians-save-jews-nazi-holocaust-le-chambon-1940-1944]
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This wonderful example of Christian responsibility challenges us in the 21st century! With anti-Semitic vitriol running so strongly in our world today, we have to ask ourselves if we would take a similar stand? Have we – do we – would we stand up against hateful speeches, marches, and actions against Jews in our culture today?
Do we share the spiritual DNA of the Chambonnais?
I fear that our answer to that question may not be what we would want it to be. We have been enculturated by an atmosphere of social intimidation, personal comfort, wealth and privilege. and anemic Christianity.
I confess that I was deeply moved by the narrative of the Charbonnais. As stated above, it was new to me. It immediately raised questions in my mind about what I would have done had I been in that village.
It didn’t escape my notice that the whole intervention was ignited and led by two pastors! Have I been that kind of pastor? Would I be that kind of pastor today? As a godly man, do I stand up for the weak, the marginalized, the oppressed, the many desperate ones in our society? Do I make a difference?
I’m so glad that by reading Os Guinness’ book THE JOURNEY, I was introduced to this sacrificial story! I needed to be challenged! Maybe you do too?
