Figure 1.--This is a Vicy document from Morocco I think dismissing Jews from schhol or government jobs. I'm not sure yet just what it says, but it is dated January 31, 1941. |
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One of the many ways that Vichy colaborated with the Germans was the Holocaust. Marshal Pétain signed the first anti-Semitic measures soon fter the German occupation began (October 1940). The most severe measures were aimed at foreign Jews. This was a common pracice in NAZI occupied Eufope. First foreign Jews were targeted and local Jews as well. There were also many measures affecting French Jews. These made it virtually impossible for French Jews to make a living. The Armistice left southern France unoccupied as well as French colonies. Vichy authorities ordered the new laws applied in the colonies as well. Again the most severe measures were aimed at foreign Jews. Sultan Mohammed V managed to win some concessions before signing the decrees Vichy offocials put before him. The Moroccan laws like the laws in Vichy and the rest of NAZI occupied Wurope made it virtually impossible for Jews to make a living, reducing them to poverty. There were also restrictions on children attending schools.
Marshal Pétain signed NAZI-style race laws into the French legal code. A Vichy law of October 4. 1940 provided that "foreign nationals of the Jewish race" would be detained in "special concentration camps". [Laskier, North Africa, p. 65-66.] Many other restrictions were subsequently applied to Jews, including French Jews. This made it impossible for Jews to make a living.
The Vichy race laws were transmitted to the French colonies than under Vichy control which included the protectorate of Morocco. Sultan Mohammed V reportedly objected to these laws. He was presented them to sign as was the established practice. He apparently resisted and was able to extract some concessions from Vichy officials. His primary objection was with the racial nature of the laws. First he got a commitment that Jews in Morocco would be determined by religious choice rather than race. Second limitations on Jewish professioinals and students would not apply to Jewish community activities. Thus Jewish schools and other community institutions could continue to function even though they were largely funded by the government. [Satloff] The first race laws were enacted October 1940. Further laws were enacted August 1941. I do not yet have details on the specific provisions of these and other laws and restrictions. The 1940 regulations appear to have covered schools and economic matters. The August 1941 regulations seem to have dealt with living areas.
Jews were dismissed from the civil service. The were also dismissed from teaching posts, and all public offices.
Jews were prohibited from engaging in the professions, both law and medicine. One report from Casablanca indicates that 26 Jewish lawyers out of 30 were removed fromthe bar. And 13 Jewish docors out of 16 were denied the right to practice.
The Vichy authorities striped 10 000 Algerian Jews of their French citizenship and classified them as "native".
Jewish students were expelled from the universities as well as state primary and secondary schools.
One student at the Lycée Lyautey in Casablanca writes, "if there were no arrests, we had however the right to prohibitionsed and exclusions. Thus my sister had it to leave the College, the numerus clausus which struck it on the other hand having saved the evening to me, certain professors face these iniquitous measurements and ensure of the clandestine courses these young victims of the anti-semitism! It was not until 1943 that all the Jewish pupils could again find the benches of their class and their comrades." [« s'il n'y eut pas d'arrestations, nous eûmes cependant droit aux interdits et exclusions. Ainsi ma soeur dut-elle quitter le Lycée, le numerus clausus qui la frappait m'ayant en revanche épargné. » Le soir, certains professeurs bravent ces mesures iniques et assurent des cours clandestins à ces jeunes victimes de l'antisémitisme ! Il faudra attendre 1943 pour que tous les élèves juifs retrouvent les bancs de leur classe et leurs camarades.] [Serfaty]
A Vichy reguation required Jews who have moved into European residential districts in cities since 1939 to vacate their residences (August 1941). This forced many Jews living in the European quarters to move to the mellahs. This appears to have been eforced on a local basis. And it does not seem to have been applied to Jews living in Morocco for some time, but our information on the details is very limited. Vichy officials were apparently planning a major operation on November 15 which was borted by the Torch Landings.
Laskier, Michael. The Jews of the Maghreb in the shadow of Vichy and the Swastika (Hebrew, Univ. of Tel Aviv, 1992).
Serfaty, Abraham.
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