Jewish funeral societies in occupied Paris. Coping with logics of persecution by Vichy

Power games, from the altar to the grave
By Johanna Lehr
English

This article intends to analyze the fate of the eight Paris Jewish funeral societies during the Occupation. Considered as Jewish properties, they are thus “aryanized” according to German regulations and the French law of July 22, 1941. Dividing French society between Jews and non Jews has become since October 1940 one of the Vichy government’s purpose. In that regard, “aryanization” is officially aimed at getting rid of the “Jewish influence on French economy”. This study highlights the contradictions between two logics of persecutions: the logic of separation between Jews and non Jews and the logic of “aryanization” of properties belonging to Jews in France. The logic of internment combines with the two other logics as soon as October 1940 when foreign Jews are the first ones to be targeted. Our aim is to underline the relative autonomy between these three logics of persecution.

Keywords

  • France
  • Vichy
  • Occupation
  • persecution
  • aryanization
  • funeral societies
Go to the article on Cairn-int.info