Christian RescuersFather Rufino Niccacci and Andre Trocme

By Stephanie Masek

Period 112-19-09

Father Rufino Niccacci

• The father guardian of the Franciscan monastery in Italy

• Headed by the bishop and his assistant• Directed to hide 300 Jews in the monastery• The Jews were disguised as nuns and monks• Taught Catholic teachings so the police

wouldn’t be suspicious

Mt. Assisi Monastery

The Older Monastery The Modern Look

http://www.holyneedle.com/store/files/images/smallt_805.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com91/233221382_df74fb7f6b.jpg

The Hill Town of Deruta,Italy

• Niccacci’s home town• Built his church, monasteries, and convents

here• The same place he hid the 300 Jews during the

Holocaust• Built a small town here for destitute Christian

and Jewish families of the holocaust here after the war

Niccacci’s Resistance

• Intense speaker- spoke to people about the cruelties of the Nazis

• Courageous• Set example for villagers and the Franciscans• Gave up his time everyday for messages • Wanted people to know about the inhumanity

and torture

Andre TrocmeAndre Trocme and his wife

Pastor in small French town called Le Chambon Sur Lignon

Began to shelter Jews in 1942

Main focus- to get the Jew across the border

http://www1.yadvashem.org/education/newsletter/english/seventh/img/Trocme.jpg

Le Chambon Sur-Lignon

o Trocme came looking for a peaceful placeo Didn’t agree with his German relativeso When homes were full, Jews were hidden in the

hills o One of the villagers said about their efforts, 'As

soon as the soldiers left, we would go into the forest and sing a song. When they heard that song, the Jews knew it was safe to come home.’

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4405006.jpg

• Great riskGreat risk• Poverty strickenPoverty stricken• Permanent hiding placesPermanent hiding places• Not one Jew was Not one Jew was

discovered or turned away discovered or turned away http://static.blogstorage.hi-pi.com/photos/gigoulette.blogspace.fr/images/gd/1196257047/LE-CHAMBON-SUR-LIGNON.jpg

Close callsClose calls

• The Vichy authorities knewThe Vichy authorities knew• Trocme was given a warningTrocme was given a warning• Vichy came for list of hidden JewsVichy came for list of hidden Jews• Trocme was arrested and let go two days laterTrocme was arrested and let go two days later• The Vichy arrested his cousin who was sent to The Vichy arrested his cousin who was sent to

death campdeath camp• Trocme remained in hiding until the war was Trocme remained in hiding until the war was

overover http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/images/Holocaust/children_france.jpg

Church Leaders response

• Trocme and Niccacci contributed by saving 7,300 French and Italian Jews

• Taking Jews in• Followed their faith and its beliefs• Not letting fear change their minds• Going against what nazi rulers and

government said• Spoke out

http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/bldied.htm