Profiles of Collaboration and Rescue in Vichy France

My research contributed to the development of character profiles for a Reacting to the Past (RTTP), an educational roleplaying game. This particular gamebook, Rescue and Resistance in Vichy France, is being created by Dr. Darlene Rivas and focuses on exploring the complex moral choices made by real people involved in resistance, rescue, and collaboration in southern France in the late years of World War II. This research has focused on the particular case of Chambon-sur-Lignon, a village that was unique for its expansive rescue efforts. My additions to this project have included the creation of role sheets for Tracy Strong and Christian de La Mazière. Strong was an American humanitarian who played an integral part in rescue in the Chambon region at the time and offers a unique international perspective to the game. De La Mazière was a Frenchman who collaborated with the Nazi regime, and while in real life he did not have strong ties to the Chambon region, the inclusion of his character in this game was important to create a balance between collaborationists and rescuers that would have been more realistic historically. This research highlights the importance of historical role play in fostering engagement with ethical dilemmas faced by real people during one of France’s darkest historical periods