Condemnation of persecution and advice to the Jews to remember history, to be patient and not to despair were voiced today by Deputy Caesar Campinchi, speaking on behalf of the French Government during ceremonies at the unveiling of an imposing monument at Douamont, near Verdun, to 6,500 French Jews and 2,000 Americans and British Jews of the Foreign Legion who fell in the war.
The unveiling was the main feature of the national celebration of the twenty-second anniversary of the battle of Verdun. It was attended by 1,000 Jewish and non-Jewish veterans with General Andre Weller, a Jew, presiding. Other speakers included Government officials and the mayor of Douaumont.
Deputy Campinchi assailed the racial theories “practiced in other countries” and declared that France stood for the ideal of equality of all people, an ideal for which, he said, Jewish soldiers fell.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
