A comprehensive report telling the story of how the autonomous Jewish Maquis units came into existence in various cities in France is published in the press here today.
The proposal to from Jewish Maquis units first met with disapproval from leaders of the underground movement in France, the report reveals. Leaders of the Maquis argued that it was not necessary to subdivide the movement into religious grouping because its activities were directed against a common enemy. Thousands of young Jews, convinced by these arguments, enlisted in the general Maquis units, which resulted in the fact that the French Forces of the Interior had many Jewish members ranging from privates to colonels.
Thousands of other young Jews, however, were of the opinion that the world must know how Jews are able to fight. Their insistence led to the formation of autonomous Jewish units, first in Lyon and then in other French cities. Many prejudices had to be overcome. One day, an important Gestapo leader was shot in a street in Lyon. No one knew the authors of this attack. It was only after it became known that the perpetrator was a member of the Jewish Maquis group that the organization was finally recognized as an independent unit.
Other independent Jewish units existed in Paris, Toulouse, Grenoble and Limoges. There also existed separate “Zionist Maquis” units with their own commanders which are credited with excellent results in the battle against the German occupation forces.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
