Curator’s Statement

The little-known rescue in Le Chambon and its surrounding villages is one of the most awe-inspiring stories of World War II, not just for the courage these devout Christians displayed while protecting thousands of Jews, but for the humility with which it took place. Together, in the face of Nazi oppression, these brave townspeople of south-central France provided refuge in their homes and on their farms to anyone who fled there—regardless of religious or ethnic background. Following their own long history of persecution, the faithful Protestants of this mountainous region chose to protect the Jews, their fellow “people of God,” with inspiration and leadership from Pastors André Trocmé and Édouard Theis, who preached tolerance, pacifism, and spiritual resistance. Despite the extreme danger of this effort, the resolute people of Le Chambon and the Plateau Vivarais-Lignon felt that it was the right thing to do, did it without hesitation, and said they would do it again. The empathy, morality, and selflessness of this story is epitomized by the Bible verse that is permanently engraved above the doorway of the 400 year-old Protestant church in Le Chambon: “Aimez-Vous Les Uns Les Autres”— “Love One Another.”

–Cary Lane, Ph.D. Curator-in-Residence