Thursday, June 18, 2015

A GOOD PLACE TO HIDE : HOW ONE FRENCH COMMUNITY SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES DURING WORLD WAR II
by Peter Grose

In the years between 1940 to 1944, an isolated French community selflessly saved 3,500 Jews from the Nazis. They risked their own lives to offer a safe haven, hospitality, and kindness. These incredible people were Huguenots, who at one time were anti-Semitic. That would change. The Huguenots broke away from the Catholic Church in 1530 and became Protestants. They grew by the millions. The Catholic Church was not too happy about this and fought them bitterly. So began the Wars of Religion. It wasn't until Napoleon arrived in 1804 that peace for the Huguenots was finally at hand. For over 200 years, they understood what it was like to be a persecuted minority. They learned how to survive, keep their wits about them, their heads down, and watch what they said. It was a match made in heaven for the Jews. They were among ordinary men and women who offered human decency.
A Good Place to Hide is an extraordinary tale. It is one of these feel-good stories that don't come around too often. The book is very well-written. Peter Grose did quite a bit of research including interviews with some of the people that were there.What started the ball rolling was a documentary called Weapons of the Spirit. (Check out the 4-minute excerpt from it on YouTube by Pierre Sauvage called "Le Chambon.") After watching this video, you will WANT to know what happened.
The story is quite moving, absorbing, and so inspiring. It's a terrific read and is not to be missed.
Highly recommended.