Roughly the southern half of France remains under French control – not independent French control, but a puppet government established by the Germans, existing only with their approval, located in the town of Vichy. As long as this government headed by Pierre Laval, does what the Germans want, it will continue to exist; if its efforts, particularly to rid southern France of Jews, are not sufficiently enthusiastic, the government will disappear.
Nonetheless, it does seem safer for a Jew to live in Vichy than in those areas under direct German control. You meet a number of other Jewish refugees, and the relaxed attitude of the local authorities leads all of you to take a few chances. You speak in public places about all matters of Jewish concern, and you even sing a few songs in Yiddish when you think no one is listening.
But Vichy is changing. A new and more anti-Semitic Commissioner for Jewish Affairs is appointed, and he begins a roundup of Jews, especially those not born in France. By the fall of 1942, large numbers of Jews have been put into the internment camp at Gurs.
If you are unlucky enough to be arrested, continue to page 58.
If you are warned in time, however, and flee to the city of Marseilles, continue to page 59.