14 episodes

This 10-part series from Waging Nonviolence explores a little-known WWII rescue story, showing what happens when ordinary people won’t ignore the horrors surrounding them.

City of Refuge Waging Nonviolence

    • History
    • 4.9 • 54 Ratings

This 10-part series from Waging Nonviolence explores a little-known WWII rescue story, showing what happens when ordinary people won’t ignore the horrors surrounding them.

    TRAILER: City of Refuge

    TRAILER: City of Refuge

    A 10-part podcast series from Waging Nonviolence that explores a little-known World War II rescue story, showing what happens when ordinary people refuse to ignore the horrors that surround them. New episodes every Tuesday starting October 15.

    • 3 min
    Part 1: We will do our best to hide them

    Part 1: We will do our best to hide them

    Refugees are fleeing, hate groups are rising, the far-right is winning elections around the world. Those who want to do something about it are going to need a model for resistance. And there may be none better than the story of a small French community that rescued around 5,000 refugees from the Nazis.

    For show credits, a list of sources, photos and transcript go to the Part 1 episode page.

    Support this podcast with a membership or donation at WagingNonviolence.org/support.

    • 31 min
    Part 2: A fight against the traditional

    Part 2: A fight against the traditional

    Born into wealthy families, Magda and André Trocmé weren’t raised to resist authority. Events both personal and historical caused them to cast off their privilege and choose unconventional life paths, ultimately leading them to their crucial roles in one of the greatest resistance and rescue operations of the 20th century.

    For show credits, a list of sources, photos and transcript go to the Part 2 episode page.

    Support this podcast with a membership or donation at WagingNonviolence.org/support.

    • 30 min
    Part 3: We could not be brainwashed

    Part 3: We could not be brainwashed

    Magda and André Trocmé immersed themselves in struggles against militarism and fascism throughout the 1930’s, but chance brought them to the village of Le Chambon — a place steeped in its own history of resistance. There, they launched a progressive school and laid the groundwork for the daring rescue effort that would soon take shape.

    For show credits, a list of sources, photos and transcript go to the Part 3 episode page.

    Support this podcast with a membership or donation at WagingNonviolence.org/support.

    • 39 min
    Part 4: She loved me enough to let me go

    Part 4: She loved me enough to let me go

    Who were the refugees that came be sheltered in Le Chambon and its surrounding communities, and how did they get there? Hear from a few of the people who managed to escape persecution and imprisonment to arrive in a real life city of refuge.

    For show credits, a list of sources, photos and transcript go to the Part 4 episode page.

    Support this podcast with a membership or donation at WagingNonviolence.org/support.

    • 36 min
    Part 5: Are you hiding any Jews?

    Part 5: Are you hiding any Jews?

    As Le Chambon’s refugee population increased, so too did unsettling visits to the community by Vichy police. Meanwhile, raids and roundups were becoming a growing threat throughout unoccupied France. All this meant that escape to Switzerland became a necessary — and daring — part of the rescue operation.

    For show credits, a list of sources, photos and transcript go to the Part 5 episode page.

    Support this podcast with a membership or donation at WagingNonviolence.org/support.

    • 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
54 Ratings

54 Ratings

BillEaves ,

Beautiful

This is a thorough and inspiring story of the people of Le Chambon and surrounding villages. Thank you for taking the time to follow new leads, have conversations with the people involved, and relate the practice of non-violence to our current situation.

DM@:) ,

Non-violence in example

This true story is well told and the music woven through is beautiful. So inspiring in these political times as we question the wisdom of our own government.

lurvepodcasts ,

Outstanding podcast!

Bryan Farrell does an outstanding job of bringing to light this little know part of WWII history and relating it to our current day crises across the world. This podcast is well-researched and delivered beautifully by Bryan with a great deal of intelligence and empathy. Highly recommend!

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