Unerwünschte Ausländer : Juden aus Deutschland und Mitteleuropa in französischen Internierungslagern 1940-1942

Discusses the fate of Jews from Germany and Central Europe in French internment camps between 1940-42. In France, between 1939-45 an internment system was created that comprised in the southern area alone about 400 camps, where 500,000 persons were detained. Aside from Spanish political prisoners and French communists, most internees were German-speaking Jews; after August 1942, 10,000 of them were deported to concentration camps. The first part examines the establishment of the internment system, describing the functioning of the first camps in 1939, labor camps under the Vichy regime in 1941-43, and preparations for deportations. The second part surveys the situation of the internees, daily life in the camps, attempts to escape to the free zone, and the beginning of deportations. The third part discusses the role of German authorities in France, and their organization and execution of the Final Solution. The last part describes the role and activities of CIMADE, UGIF, and other Jewish aid organizations which, in 1939-43, supplied the internees with food and medicine, and managed to rescue many children. Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral--Freie Universität Berlin, 1993) under the title: Im Vorzimmer zu Auschwitz. 566 pages : maps ; 24 cm.