Bordeaux 1940 - This was the week that made all the difference in WWII

This was the week that was... in Bordeaux June 1940!

Page from Curious George 

The events of June 1940t made all the difference for thousands of refugee families fleeing from the Nazi invasion, for the resistance of France, and for the mobilization of the allied forces of freedom which eventually prevailed in World War II. 

On this Day of Conscience, we remember the courage of Aristides de Sousa Mendes,  83 years ago, who decided to follow his conscience and try to "save all those people whose affliction was indescribable"with the help of 

Rabbi Chaim Kruger, the consular staff and his family.

NEVER FORGET the suffering of the victims. 

Always remember the rescue actions and the 

moral imperative of the rescuers 

who followed their conscience in the face of 

great danger and unknown risks. 

Rabbi Chaim Kruger and 
Aristides de Sousa Mendes 1940

Engraving of refgugees in Bordeaux 1940

This was also the week that Paris was over-run and the Government of France retreated to Bordeaux.   On 16-June, General Charles de Gaulle left Bordeaux for London, from where he made a broadcast on BBC radio calling on the French to resist the Nazi invasion, on 18-June-1940.

"La France n'est pas seule!"  

Charles de Gaulle https://www.lemonde.fr/en/videos/video/2023/01/19/how-le-monde-recreated-de-gaulle-s-lost-1940-call-for-france-to-resist_6012188_108.html

Pope Francis said in 2020:  Freedom of conscience must be respected always and everywhere   https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-day-of-freedom-of-conscience.html