Gift of Willy Waks

Id no. 1277.89, Document, French

France, Limoges

Subject(s):  Race laws, Occupation-France

This ID card was issued to Cynzie (Cela) Cajfinger by the collaborationist government of Vichy France. When Nazi Germany invaded France in 1940, Cynzie and her family took refuge in the small town of Limoges. Several months later, the Vichy authorities issued ID cards labeled with the word ?Juif,? or, in this case, ?Juive,? meaning ?Jew,? to every Jew in France. Each person who was issued a card had to show it on command to Nazi and Vichy officials, officers, and soldiers. This specific ID notes that Cynzie was a naturalized French citizen.