Naomi Weisman is a Canadian, Australian and mother of three, who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
I love to watch, read or listen to anything related to World War ll. I feel so many emotions and learn many things about humanity and the human spirit. Although this limited series is not the finest example of acting, it taught me a lot about a little-known or talked about rescue mission called The Emergency Rescue Committee.
Set in Marseilles, France, in 1940-1941, Transatlantic (seven episodes) highlights five brave souls who were systematically uncelebrated after the war ended: an American journalist named Varian Fry, an American heiress named Mary Jane Gold, Dr. Albert Hirschman (famous economist and Jewish refugee), and Lisa and Hans Fittko.
Under Varian Fry’s direction, they launched a rescue operation to help a large number of refugees reach the United States, including some of the 20th century’s defining artists and thinkers — such as Marc Chagall and Hannah Arendt. But, because the French government refused to provide them with exit permits and the United States swung its door shut to most refugees during World War II, the plan encountered several obstacles.
Before watching this series, I wasn’t aware of the American involvement in France before they officially entered the war. They had a unique position in the early years of the war of being impartial and conducting business alongside diplomatic matters.
American company, IBM (known as ACM in the series) had developed a counting and tabulation machine and, through the American consulate in France, was able to lease these machines to Nazi Germany. They then provided continuous maintenance service and sold the spare parts and the special paper needed for the customized punch cards. IBM was the sole source of the needed punch cards and spare parts
This technology allowed the Nazi regime to more accurately pinpoint the number of “undesirables” within their borders and to expand their operations when invading other countries. They were not breaking wartime embargo laws because the machines were only leased, not sold. Needless to say, apart from aiding and abetting the Nazi agenda, IBM was enriched immeasurably by this business deal.
Transatlantic does an excellent job of highlighting the bravery of a select few who chose to risk their lives to save others and the terrible corruption of the French police and the American consulate.
The Emergency Rescue Committee rescued over 2000 people before it was shut down in the autumn of 1941. Many of the people saved were some of Europe’s preeminent philosophers, artists, and scientists, which of course, benefitted the United States in ways that are impossible to calculate.
I recommend this series to anyone interested in the bravery of the resistance movement during World War ll.
I would love to hear what you think in the comments and please pop use the contact form to tell us what you are watching, reading and listening.
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