The roundups of Jews—violent mass arrests carried out without warning—were generally ordered by the Germans but carried out primarily by French police forces. There were numerous such roundups, which took place in the occupied zone in 1941 (such as the “green ticket” roundup, the 11th arrondissement roundup, or the “notables’ roundup”), in 1942, and, after November 1942, in the former so-called “free” zone.
The largest roundups are:
— the Vél’ d’Hiv’ roundup in Paris on July 16 and 17, 1942: nearly 13,000 people, including 6,000 women and 4,000 children, were arrested, interned, and then deported
— roundups based on nationality targeting Romanian, Greek, and German Jews… throughout France
— the roundup of August 26, 1942, throughout the southern zone and without any German presence
— the Lyon roundup in February 1943, orchestrated by Klaus Barbie
— the Marseille roundup in January 1943, led by René Bousquet
— the roundup in Villeurbanne in March 1943
— the Bordeaux roundup in 1944
Most cities in France were affected by the roundups of Jews.
Most of the Jews who were rounded up were transferred to the Drancy transit camp and then deported to the extermination camps.
Reference:
Doris Bensimon, 1993, *The Great Roundups: Jews in France, 1940–44*, Privat Historical Library .
