AVIS AUX ISRAÉLITES – “Notice to Israelites.” An official poster issued by the authorities in France calling upon Jews to report promptly to the town hall before the set deadline of October 2, in order to complete the registration of their personal details, with the warning that failure to appear would result in “the most severe” punishment—marking the first stage in the process of deportation. Printed signature of the mayor of Champigny-sur-Marne, Gaston Chardin. France, 1940. French.
Text of the notice:
“Notice to Israelites – At the request of the occupation authorities, Jews are required to present themselves with identification at the town hall of Champigny (Population Registry Office) before October 2, the final deadline for completing identity registration. Failure to appear within the prescribed time limits will expose individuals to the most severe penalties. Champigny-sur-Marne, September 26, 1940, Gaston Chardin.”
France was occupied by Nazi forces in June 1940. It was divided into a German-occupied zone in the north and west, and a nominally independent state in the south, known as Vichy France. The new French state, headed by Henri Philippe Pétain, maintained a regime of collaboration with the Nazis and pursued a passive and compliant policy, including cooperation in the persecution and destruction of its Jewish population. The present poster was issued as part of the implementation of this collaboration, aimed at creating a precise registry that later enabled surveillance, control, confiscation, and deportation.
Size: 30×22 cm. Very good condition.
