Transport from Venissieux, Rhone, France to Drancy, Camp, France on 29/08/1942

While the mass arrest was planned for August 26, arrests began in the Region of Lyon as early as August 20 and continued until August 26. Approximately 1,200 foreign Jews were arrested, most of them in their homes on the morning of August 20. They were interned in the Venissieux camp, 544 of whom were transferred to Drancy on August 29. A series of meetings took place throughout July and August 1942 to discuss the implementation of the deportations from the unoccupied zone and to devise a programme for the upcoming transports. Present at the meetings were representatives of the Vichy government as well as a representative of the SNCF (La Société nationale des chemins de fer français, French National Railway Company). At a meeting held on August 24, the departure of a train from the Venissieux camp located in the Lyon Region was confirmed for August 29. The trains were to comprise the following: three cars without sliding doors for approximately 200 people, 27 covered cars for approximately 800 people, four covered cars for the luggage, and 1 car for approximately 72 guards. The trains were to be accompanied by the Gendarmerie from the unoccupied zone until the demarcation line where they were to be taken over by the Gendarmerie from the occupied zone. Each commando was to be composed of 11 officers and 40 men. On the morning of the deportation from Venissieux, a significant reduction in the number of deportees was granted thanks to the efforts of several organizations, notably the Amitié Chrétienne, an interfaith assistance organization established by the Catholic priest, Father Pierre Chaillet in Lyon in 1941. Chaillet negotiated with Vichy officials to exclude certain Jews from the transport. As a result only one child under the age of 15 was included in this transport. This despite the fact that unlike the transports which preceded the roundup of August 26, the order had been given to deport the children with their parents....