But that reasoning doesn't take into account that the French themselves largely ruled France, especially in the rural areas. With some German guidelines of cause (none mentioning the rounding up of the Jewish population). It also doesn't take into account that the Russians, under Stalin were also rounding up their Jews. I'm not sure If Italy did but again they were not under German rule. The Russians were certainty not Nazis (some would argue they were worse).
America also sent back Jewish refugees, in some cases to their deaths under the Nazis. There was obviously a Nazi element in America at the time (trying in the main to keep America neutral) But I wouldn't call the turning back of Jewish refugees a Nazi act although in hindsight it was certainly a bad decision by the politicians at the time.
Saying that France had no choice negates Frances actions at this time. They most certainly did have a choice and choose to voluntarily round up and turn over the Jewish population. Saying they didn't condones their actions.
The same argument (I had no choice or I was ordered to do it) didnt work for those facing charges in Nuremburg by the way.
1) They called it
occupied France for a reason. Vichy France was a puppet state and a territory of the Third Reich. The directives were all German.
1a) While the rural French hold a dim view of Jews and non-Catholics in general, they didn't have an organized state-sponsored antisemitic program in place before Paris fell. The Germans did.
2) Stalin rounded up everybody. More Ukrainians died as a result of his actions than Jews. Again the incidental antisemitism prevalent in much of prewar Europe. The USA also had its share of antisemites, some in positions of power, as the refusal to let the
St. Louis dock here proved. Antisemites need not be Nazis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_deaths_in_the_Soviet_Union_under_Joseph_Stalin
3) You also speak of France as if it were an entity capable of deciding and acting as a "person". I am certain that there were as many unannounced acts of heroism and kindness (e.g. concealing Jews from the German authorities) as there were more tabulable acts of betrayal. I note that personalizing a group is a classic tool of the demagogue.
I am curious as to why you seem to be apologizing for the German policy of exterminating Jews. While they weren't the only active antisemites, Germany's plans and deeds in this regard raised the massacre of Jews to levels of intensity and efficiency not even approached by any other society. You are working to dilute that core fact, and I do not know what your dog is in this hunt. That you have one though is beyond honest dispute.
