Do you know about hero André Trocmé?

By Ida Margolis, GenShoah Chair

A few years ago, while reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants,” I read the story about a village in France, called Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, and what the entire town did for Jews during WWII. I know that Gladwell’s book is nonfiction and I wondered why, if this is a true story, I had never heard about it. I proceeded to research this village and found out that indeed this was a true story, and I learned about the amazing spiritual leader of the Protestant congregation in this village, André Trocmé.

During WWII, this village became a haven for Jews fleeing the Nazis and their French collaborators. When the deportations began in France in 1942, Pastor Trocmé urged his congregation to give shelter to “the people of the Bible.” Soon, hundreds of Jews were in the village and its outlying areas. Some found permanent shelter in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon; others were given temporary asylum until they were able to escape across the border.

Pastor André Trocmé

Jews were housed in numerous places, including with local townspeople and farmers, even though they understood the danger. Some Jews were escorted on the dangerous treks to the Swiss border. It was amazing to read that an “entire community banded together to rescue Jews, viewing it as their Christian obligation.”

An article about Pastor Trocmé at Yad Yashem.org, noted that “The people of Le Chambon acted upon their conviction that it was their duty to help their ‘neighbors in need.’” The article continued to state that, “Many factors joined together to create this generous spirit: the history of Protestant persecution as a religious minority in Catholic France; empathy for Jews as the people of the Old Testament and a shared biblical heritage; and, last but not least, the powerful leadership and example of the pastor and his wife, André and Magda Trocmé.”

Obviously, it was not possible to keep these rescue activities secret for long. The Vichy authorities suspected what was taking place and demanded that the pastor cease his activities.

When told to abandon the Jews, Pastor Trocmé responded, “These people came here for help and for shelter. I am their shepherd. A shepherd does not forsake his flock... I do not know what a Jew is. I know only human beings.”

I was so moved when reading that, thinking about the risk and courage of someone who would respond that way rather than take the easy route of turning over the Jews to the authorities.

Yad Yashem reported, “Neither pressure from the authorities nor searches by security agents diminished the resolve of the Trocmés and their team. On 15 August 1942, Trocmé vehemently articulated his opinion to Georges Lamirand, a minister in the Vichy government, on an official visit to the small town.

“Several days later, gendarmes moved into Le Chambon to purge the town of its ‘illegal’ residents. Two weeks later, on 30 August, the suspense climaxed with rumors of an arrest warrant issued against the minister. In his overflowing church, Trocmé urged his congregants to ‘do the will of God, not of men.’” The gendarmes were ultimately withdrawn.

Heroes Heroines & Helpers

However, in February 1943, Trocmé and two colleagues were arrested. Held for five weeks, Trocmé was pressured to sign a commitment to obey all government orders. However, the minister refused to sign as ordered. He was released, but forced to go underground, yet his positive influence on the residents of Le Chambon had already been marked — they continued Pastor Trocmé’s legacy by welcoming persecuted Jews into their homes, enabling many of them to live until the end of the war.

On Jan. 5, 1971 and May 14, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized André Trocmé and his wife, Magda, respectively, as “Righteous Among the Nations.”

A 1987 documentary, “Weapons of the Spirit,” was made about this village, but is not easily available. It was said that this documentary exposes a “conspiracy of good.”

I am glad I learned about André Trocmé, and hope his story becomes more widely known. With current conspiracies in the news, a “conspiracy of good” is welcome.

Pass it on.