The Jews involved in the Jewish section of the M.O.I. had particularly strong organizations at their disposal, such as “ “Solidarité ” andthe UJRE, which organized their fight against Nazism and its collaborators politically, technically, and logistically. Because their struggle was conducted in secret, the exact number of resistance fighters is unknown.
From the moment war was declared—and particularly beginning in September 1940—these Jewish immigrants carried out effective actions: helping those in hiding and the most vulnerable families, distributing leaflets and underground newspapers, and protecting Jewish children. They called on the French public to take action and, throughout the war, were actively involved in the Resistance.
The Jewish Resistance is not represented solely by the M.O.I. Other Jewish movements have also demonstrated their determination: the Éclaireurs Israélites de France (EIF) and the group on Amelot Street (known as the Amelot Committee) fought against enemy forces and hid Jewish children, as didthe Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants ( OSE).
Several very active networks (Garel, André, Marcel, etc.) and the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) also organized the rescue of children.
The FTP-M.O.I., a fighting force created by the French Communist Party ( PCF) in 1941 and established in 1942, emerged very early on, much like “Solidarity.” The armed struggle began with isolated, symbolic actions before evolving into full-scale urban guerrilla warfare. or guerrilla forces. There were numerous direct attacks on military targets. The
Overview of the FTP-M.O.I.’s actions is impressive: derailments of enemy trains carrying military equipment, German-occupied command posts set ablaze, weapons depots destroyed, hotels requisitioned by the army stormed…
These women and men were driven by an ideal of justice and freedom, by their love for the French Republic, and also by their determination to fight against fascism and Nazism.
