Moroccan Jews and the Vichy regime, 1940–42

Abstract

This overview of the situation of Jews prior to and during the war discusses the increasing social stratification of the Jewish community during the interwar period, their willingness to unite and overcome ideological differences in order to help France prepare for war, the appeals for solidarity from the Muslim progressives, the impact of the fall of France on Jewish consciousness, the politics surrounding the implementation of the anti-Semitic Vichy legislation that targeted Jews and deprived many of their livelihood, and finally the impact of the American landings on all Moroccans, with special emphasis on the relationship between American officials and the Jewish community. The arrival of the American forces upset pro-Vichy colonial officials while Jewish Moroccans rejoiced, deepening the gulf between them. In fact, wartime conditions created an entirely new volatile mix, heightening tensions among the various actors on the scene: Pétainists, pro-Nazis, the residency, Jewish activists, Muslim notables, nationalists, and now, the Americans. The realignment of players and the diminution of Vichy authority after November 1942 gave hope to both Moroccan Jews and Moroccan Muslims that post-war conditions would improve their situations and lead to new forms of political freedom.