World War II Broadside Protesting Forced Labor and Deportation of European Refugees Under Vichy France, 1941

Broadside issued in 1941 by the Emergency Committee to Stop Deportations to the Sahara Desert, articulating an urgent appeal against the forced deportation of anti-fascist refugees by the Vichy French government during the early years of the Second World War. Written by Edward K. Barsky, a leading figure in the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, the document calls on American citizens to intervene diplomatically by contacting both the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Secretary of State. The broadside documents contemporary awareness of mass deportations and forced labor policies under the Pétain regime, describing plans to remove large numbers of refugees-including veterans of the Spanish Civil War, members of the International Brigades, and political exiles from across Europe-to labor camps connected to the Trans-Saharan Railroad. The text situates these actions within broader patterns of repression, highlighting the targeting of anti-fascist populations and the international composition of those affected. As such, the document provides primary-source evidence of early wartime advocacy efforts in the United States responding to refugee persecution and authoritarian policies in Vichy-controlled territories. Single-page printed broadside. New York: Emergency Committee to Stop Deportations to the Sahara Desert, 1941. Measuring approximately 10.25 x 8 inches. Printed in black text within a ruled border on brown paper. The text consists of a headline, explanatory statement, and direct appeal for public action, including instructions to contact diplomatic officials. Light wear consistent with age; text clear and legible; overall very good condition. A scarce wartime advocacy document reflecting early American engagement with the European refugee crisis under Vichy rule.…