France to pay $60 million for Holocaust victims deported by state rail firm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/05/us-france-usa-holocaust-idUSKCN0JJ1TB20141205

http://holocaustrailvictims.org/learn-the-issues/sncf-and-the-holocaust/

Long overdue.  LL

Indeed, LL. But France really is trying.

I agree with: "But France really is trying.".

Pedro Silva wrote:I agree with: "But France really is trying.".

I live here, Pedro, so I do know a bit more about what went on, and about what is happening now.

But I will never forget the following.

Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amaral e Abranches, GCC, OL (July 19, 1885 – April 3, 1954; Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɾiʃˈtiðɨʒ ðɨ ˈsowzɐ ˈmẽdɨʃ]) was a Portuguese consul. As Portuguese Consul-General in Bordeaux, France, he defied the orders of Portugal's António de Oliveira Salazar dictatorship, issuing visas in 1940 to thousands of refugees fleeing from invading German military forces in the early period of World War II. He was punished by his government for his actions but was eventually vindicated after his death. He was honored posthumously by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations, the first diplomat to be so honored.

This was a man that Portugal should be so proud of. He walked across a mountain range between France and Spain to help the Jews on their way.

There is a film about him which I watched in French, and is possibly on YouTube. But you didn't need to speak the language to know how amazing he was.

Many, many people did try to help, and to save lives - right up to Goering's own brother, Sabot. What that says about those in occupied nations who didn't just try to stay alive, but actively collaborated and turned in their own neighbours, I'd really rather not know.

It was mostly fear, Bonny. Although not entirely. The Vichy Government certainly had no need to be afraid. And sadly, The French still run judicially on Authority, as a means to every day life.

You need to travel down that way a bit to see how life works and how they deal with people in general. There are some very nasty vibes to this day.

It has never been this way in Brittany, so it was a bit of a shock to me. But then The Bretons bugger all, and do their own thing. They hid anyone who was at risk.