https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55863061
During World War Two a village in the south- east of France took in thousands of Jewish people and hid them from Nazis to protect them. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon became known through word of mouth as a place where Jewish refugees would be shielded. The operation was led by a local pastor and his wife who led calls for volunteers to help refugees fleeing persecution. Ordinary residents risked their lives to hide Jewish refugees as the village was occupied at the time by the Nazis.
One of the refugees was a boy called Eric Schwam, pictured above. Eric arrived in the village from Vienna in 1943 with his parents and grandmother, although it is not known how they got there.
After the war Eric moved to Austria and then France to study pharmacy. Late last year Eric died aged 90 and in his will, he has left £1.7 million to the village.
Eric did not want publicity and has left no message to the village. The mayor of the village says the money will be used to fund education and youth initiatives.
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Why were thousands of Jewish people in need of
hiding in WW2?
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What did the Nazis believe about Jewish people
and about anyone who was different?
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Le Chambon-sur-Lignon was occupied by the Nazis,
what does this mean?
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Why do you think a pastor, who was not Jewish,
chose to find hiding places for the Jewish refugees?
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- why do you think residents in the town who
were not Jewish chose to help and hide Jewish refugees?
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What would have happened to a family if they had
been caught hiding Jewish people?
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When Eric was a refugee hiding with a family, do
you think he imagined he would end up being a millionaire?
- What does this show us about being a refugee; how can lives change?
- Why do you think Eric left so much money to the village?
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How do you think the people who live in the
village today feel about their village’s history?
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What can we learn from Eric?
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What can we learn from the pastor and the
villagers from 1943?
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Why is this a story of hope?
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