During World War II , the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker relief organization, provided food, shelter, and other aid to thousands of Jewish refugees—especially Jewish children—in France. The Quakers were active throughout France, even in areas occupied by German forces. In this footage, Quaker relief workers feed children at one of the Quaker-established schools in Marseille in the unoccupied southern zone of France.
In some 400 schools like this throughout unoccupied France, 50,000 children are fed daily by American Quakers. Soup, to help ease memories of hungry days and nights of horror. An added precaution, vitamins to foster resistance to the starvation the Nazi war machine sentenced them to face. And grateful youngsters they are. While their own leaders collaborate with the conquerors who plunder their country, the children of France send thanks to Friends across the sea.
We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, the Claims Conference, EVZ, and BMF for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of donor acknowledgement.
