A Good Place to Hide

A Good Place to Hide tells the true story of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a remote Protestant village in France that sheltered thousands of Jews during World War II. Author Peter Grose reconstructs the events through survivor accounts, historical records, and interviews with residents. The book follows key figures in the village including Pastor André Trocmé and his wife Magda, who helped coordinate the rescue efforts across the isolated Plateau Vivarais-Lignon. Local farmers, teachers, and ordinary citizens worked together to hide refugees in homes, schools, and farms while maintaining strict secrecy. Through detailed research and firsthand testimonies, Grose documents how this rural community managed to save lives despite constant threats from the Vichy regime and Nazi forces. The narrative tracks both the daily challenges of sheltering refugees and the broader historical context of occupied France. The book illuminates universal themes about moral courage and the power of collective resistance in the face of evil. It examines how religious faith and humanitarian values motivated ordinary people to risk everything to protect strangers.

Readers commend the detailed research and compelling personal stories of how villagers in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon saved thousands of Jewish refugees during WWII. Many note the book succeeds in balancing individual narratives with broader historical context. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of the regional geography and local culture - Focus on ordinary citizens rather than just leaders - Inclusion of first-hand accounts and testimonies - Maps and photographs that enhance understanding Common criticisms: - Writing can be dry in historical sections - Too many names and details to track - Some repetition between chapters - Lacks a strong narrative thread Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (219 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (106 ratings) Notable reader comment from Amazon: "The author brings to life not just the headline moments but the day-to-day reality of orchestrating a massive rescue operation while living under occupation."

Village of Secrets by Caroline Moorehead The story of how residents in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France protected Jewish refugees during WWII through a complex network of safe houses and escape routes.

Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Philip Hallie A historical account of Protestant pastor André Trocmé and the residents of Le Chambon who saved thousands of Jews from Nazi persecution.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom A firsthand account of a Dutch Christian family who created a secret room in their home to hide Jews from the Nazis before their eventual arrest and imprisonment.

Scholars of Mayhem by Daniel C. Guiet and Timothy K. Smith The true story of Jean Claude Guiet, who worked with French resistance networks to coordinate rescue operations and sabotage Nazi operations in occupied France.

The Nine by Gwen Strauss The account of nine female resistance fighters who escaped from a German forced labor camp and made their way across Europe to freedom.

🔹 The village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon and surrounding communities saved approximately 3,500 Jews from Nazi persecution during World War II, despite the region's own population being only about 24,000 people. 🔹 Author Peter Grose spent three years living in France while researching and writing this book, conducting extensive interviews with survivors and their descendants. 🔹 The rescue effort was led by Protestant pastor André Trocmé and his wife Magda, who drew inspiration from their Huguenot heritage—their ancestors had also faced religious persecution centuries earlier. 🔹 The region's remote location on the Vivarais Plateau, with its harsh winters and difficult terrain, helped protect refugees by making it challenging for Nazi forces to conduct thorough searches. 🔹 Many of the Jewish children saved in Le Chambon were given new identities and enrolled in local schools, where teachers and students worked together to maintain their cover stories during unexpected inspections.