Défense de Traverser

“Défense de Traverser” means “Do Not Cross” in French. This sign was one of many erected to establish the line between the occupied zone and the unoccupied zone in France. Papers were required to cross this line legally. 

After the fall of France, travel became more and more restricted for Jews. The Armistice of 22 June, 1940 separated the Occupied zone, administered by the German Army, and the “Free Zone”, administered by the French government, by the Demarcation line. To move between the two zones, people needed either an identity card or a free movement card, neither of which was available to Jews.