Intent, Process, Perceptions

At the intersection of Holocaust and World War II studies, a systematic and comparative analysis of Jews’ behaviors in Western Europe remains underexplored. This brief article proposes a methodological framework for studying choices between 1940 and 1945, focusing on the experiences of two Jewish women who survived in Vichy France. Drawing on concepts from French cultural history, I argue for a shift from “survival” as an outcome to “surviving” as a social process, which reframes agency by focusing on intent, process, and wartime perceptions. Ultimately, the article challenges binary frameworks of resistance and compliance, calling for a dynamic and contextualized approach to wartime decision-making.