In November 1941, Jewish institutions were required to affiliate with the UGIF, founded by the Vichy regime at the request of the Nazis. The Éclaireurs Israélites de France (EIF), created in 1923 by Robert Gamzon, constituted the sixth section of the UGIF’s leadership, specializing in youth issues. It was officially named the Youth Social Service. This movement welcomed young Jews, whether observant or not, Zionist or not, French or immigrants.
Following numerous roundups in the northern and southern zones, the “6th” became a clandestine Resistance organization tasked with hiding Jewish adolescents (children under the age of 15 were cared for by the OSE’s Garel network). Religious institutions, boarding schools, families, private individuals, and safe “hiding places” were sought out and made available to rescuers for children equipped with false papers. The production of these false papers became one of the EIF’s main activities. Many Resistance organizations benefited from this. The “6th” operated in both the Northern and Southern Zones, with its headquarters located in Moissac, in the Tarn department.
Following the large-scale roundups of August 1942 in the so-called “free zone,” numerous arrests took place on farms, in homes, and in camps run by the EIF.
Now operating entirely underground, the EIF works closely with the MJS (Young Zionist Movement) network, the Garel network, and Joseph Bass’s André network.
In January 1943, the head of the General Commissariat for Jewish Affairs, Darquier de Pellepoix, ordered the dissolution of the EIF. Several of its leaders were executed.
The EIF’s transition to the armed Resistance took place in November 1943 with the creation of the Montagne Noire maquis in the Tarn region near Vabre, their second headquarters. There, the young EIF members were tasked with receiving airdrops, which were very frequent in the area.
On August 19, 1944, the Marc Haguenau Company (named after the secretary-general of the EIF, who was in charge of social services and was murdered by the Gestapo during an escape attempt) took part in the capture of a German army armored train between Mazamet and Castres.
Two days later, she took part in the liberation of Castres. In September, she joined General de Lattre de Tassigny’s 1st French Army and fought in the final battle in Germany.
The “6th” played a role in the Liberation of France and saved a large number of Jewish children from deportation, but many of its members were tortured, shot, or deported.
Reference:
Hersco Tsilla, with the assistance of Lucien Lazare. 2006, Jewish Combat Organization. France 1940–1945. Published by Autrement.
