Regeneration and Exclusion: Ambivalence in Vichy France [Review of the book "Pétain’s Jewish Children: French Jewish Youth and the Vichy Regime, 1940-1942," by Daniel Lee]

Abstract

A review of "Pétain's Jewish Children: French Jewish Youth and the Vichy Regime, 1940-1942" by Daniel Lee. Under the Vichy regime, the French government sought to enact a National Revolution intended to rebuild France after its shocking defeat. Based on traditional values, such as a return to working the land, manual labor and nationalism, the National Revolution was also predicated on the exclusion of Jews from the national community. In Petain's Jewish Children, Daniel Lee explores the ways in which the seemingly contradictory goals of regeneration and exclusion actually created a space for French Jewish youth to participate in the National Revolution during the first two years of the German occupation. Lee also demonstrates the heterogeneity of opinions regarding Jews at the highest levels of government, as well as areas of convergence between some Jewish organizations and the National Revolution.

Department(s)

History and Political Science

Document Type

Review - Book

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 Yad Vashem Publications, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2015

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