A Defiant Stand in Occupied Paris
When Nazi tanks entered Paris on June 14, 1940, the Musée de l’Homme remained open, displaying a defiant message on its door. The museum’s director, Paul Rivet, would soon become a key figure in the French Resistance, leading a covert network against the occupying forces.
Founding the Resistance Group
Rivet, an anthropologist known for his anti-racist views, used the museum as a base for resistance activities. He collaborated with young scholars like Boris Vildé and Anatole Lewitsky, helping them organize one of the earliest resistance cells. The group spread anti-Nazi propaganda and gathered intelligence.
Betrayal and Arrests
In 1941, Vildé and Lewitsky were betrayed by informants and arrested by the Gestapo. Despite efforts to save them, they were executed in 1942. Rivet fled to Colombia just before the Gestapo searched the museum.
A Legacy of Defiance
From Bogotá, Rivet continued to support the Resistance. After Paris was liberated, he returned in 1944 and was awarded the Resistance Medal for his efforts. Today, the Musée de l’Homme honors Rivet and his group’s courageous fight against oppression.
The Anthropologist Who Defied the Nazis
A Defiant Stand in Occupied Paris
When Nazi tanks entered Paris on June 14, 1940, the Musée de l’Homme remained open, displaying a defiant message on its door. The museum’s director, Paul Rivet, would soon become a key figure in the French… pic.twitter.com/zXIu3HJe8v— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TBBOB2) September 5, 2024