André Trocmé (1901–1971) and Magda Trocmé (1901–1996), a pastor and his wife from the small French town of Le Chambon sur Lignon, played an important role in saving the lives of Jews in Vichy France. In 1942, the Vichy government began the deportation of French Jews. Assisted by the Germans and their own police forces, the Vichy government rounded up, deported, and ultimately killed, 72,500 French Jews. As Jews tried to flee their home towns they passed through small towns like the own where the Trocmés lived. In most places, Jews did not find neighbors willing to aid their escape across the border into Switzerland. In Le Chambon, however, under the direction of the Trocmés, hundreds of Jews were given places to hide and food for their families. André Trocmé preached to his fellow Protestants the importance of aiding Jews whom he called fellow “people of the Bible.” Because of his encouragement, the people of Le Chambon aided the Trocmés in their efforts to save these fleeing families. After the arrest of the pastor, the town continued to harbor Jews and aid in their escape. While in prison, Pastor Trocmé refused to sign a memorandum declaring his willingness to comply with the Vichy regime’s policies. After he was eventually released, he continued his efforts underground.

Yad Vashem bestowed André Trocmé and Magda Trocmé with the title of Righteous Among the Nations, the center’s honorific title for those who assisted Jews during the Holocaust.