31:
237:, he visited the site of his grandfather's imprisonment, Rawa-Ruska. Desbois knew that before World War II more than 15,000 Jews had lived in the town, but when he asked to see where they had been murdered, the mayor brushed him off and said no one knew anything about it. "How could more than 10,000 Jews be killed in the village and nobody knows?" he says. "I knew I needed to find out what happened. So I came back two times, three times, four times to Rawa-Ruska. And then the mayor lost the election and a new mayor was elected, much less Soviet."
241:
experiences during World War II. They told of how the Jews were marched out to this clearing, forced to dig steep pits and hand over their valuables before being shot. They recounted stories of how the
Germans had forced them â children or teenagers at the time â to guard the Jews to prevent them from escaping, to cover the corpse-filled pits, to serve the German soldiers food and even bring them a gramophone so they could listen to music.
715:
729:
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has stated: "Desbois doesn't ask a lot of the people that he speaks with. ...He gives the impression that it was the
Germans doing all the killing, but in fact much of the organization of the genocide had a lot to do with auxiliary and local police forces. He is not interested in that". Paul Shapiro
289:
Desbois conducts many of the interviews with the witnesses himself (and with translators). Using metal detectors, Desbois and his team have unearthed German cartridges and bullets from the pits where bodies were thrown, as well as jewelry belonging to the victims. Criticisms leveled against Father
244:
Desbois recalls one woman â "an old lady with a blue scarf" â who tearfully told him, "I was at my farm, I was 14, and they told me, 'Come, come' and I had to climb in the trees and pick up pieces of corpses and hide them with branches in the grave so that the next Jews will not see them. And then
228:
community. In 2002, he traveled to
Ukraine, so he could see where his grandfather had been imprisoned during the war, and to pay respects at a memorial to the lives lost. Upon his arrival, he was shocked to discover that there existed not a single marking or commemoration to 1.25 million Jewish
145:
In 2004, he joined leaders in the French
Catholic and Jewish community in founding Yahad-In Unum ("together" in Hebrew and in Latin.) The organization's purpose is to further relations between Catholics and Jews. Its largest and most ambitious initiative is to locate the sites of mass graves of
240:
The new mayor led
Desbois to the forest where, Desbois says, approximately 50 elderly men and women of the village were gathered in a semicircle. "You are standing on the graves of the last 1,500 Jews of Rawa-Ruska," the mayor said. One by one the villagers stepped forward and told of their
299:
has countered that: "Some people have been critical of his methodology, but no one else is going out and doing this kind of work. It is easy to be critical; it is much harder to have the drive, stamina and commitment to go again and again to these places." In March 2014,
315:. He worked for the recognition of the 'Holocaust by Bullets' because the Holocaust had begun even before the camps, and furthermore, not only in the Ukraine. It is very important to know how the genocidal process began, and how it came to the extermination camps.
285:
between 1941 and 1944. Local contemporary witnesses are interviewed about the mass shootings which took place next to their home and the mass graves are located. Desbois estimates that there are no less than 1 million victims buried in 1,200 graves in
Ukraine.
509:
615:
204:
as an adjunct professor. Since 2016 he is the inaugural holder of the Braman
Endowed Professorship of the Practice of the Forensic Study of the Holocaust at the Center for Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University.
37:, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, recognizes the work of Father Patrick Desbois, President of the Yahad-In Unum Association of France, with a Tribute of Appreciation certificate (12 May 2011)
248:
Following these revelations, the villagers told
Desbois they had never before publicly spoken of what had happened. Many asked the priest before he left, "Why are you coming so late? We have been waiting for
134:. After he requested to work with the Jewish community of France, he was appointed secretary to the French conference of Bishops for Relations with the Jewish community from 1999 to 2016. Since 2016 he is a
379:
Due to his position as
Director of the French Episcopal Conference's Committee for Relations with Judaism, Father Desbois has had to deal with the controversy following negationist comments made by
327:
The Holy Father encourages the members of âYahad-In Unumâ to continue their struggle for the just recognition of the violence suffered by so many men and women belonging to different communities.
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546:
213:
Father
Desbois' interest in the Holocaust started at a young age, because his grandfather, who helped raise him, was a French soldier who had been deported to the Nazi prison camp in
94:, graduating with a degree in mathematics in 1977. He entered the Grand Seminary of Prado in 1981 and was ordained as a priest in 1986. That same year he earned a master's degree in
564:
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As a consequence of his childhood interests, Father Desbois studied the Jewish faith while preparing for his ordination as a Catholic priest. He studied anti-semitism at
625:
363:
I salute the importance and seriousness of the highly documented work you and your association are doing to highlight the gravity of the tragedy of the Yazidi genocide.
75:
163:
and supported in Europe and the United States. Desbois has been internationally recognized for his extraordinary efforts; his awards include the Medal of Valor by the
417:
463:
387:. However, since Desbois has positive relations with the Jewish community, he has been able to maintain a great deal of trust during an otherwise difficult period.
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during World War II. His grandfather did not speak much of his time in the camp, and Father Desbois remained curious about the Holocaust and its Jewish victims.
70:, an organization dedicated to locating the sites of mass graves of Jewish victims of the Nazi mobile-killing units in the former Soviet Union. He received the
535:
603:
Award for exemplary work in the fight against genocide in honor of his dedication to investigating and exposing crimes of genocide around the world from the
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30:
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122:. In 1992, he became the Superior of the Grand Seminary in Prado, Lyon. From 1992-99, he served as Secretary of Jewish Relations for Cardinals
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352:. Until July 2018, nearly 300 semi-directive interviews of Yazidi victims of all ages were conducted by Desbois and his team.
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Desbois include his acceptance of the confessions of complicity in war crimes by those whom he interviews. Professor
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is led by Patrick Desbois and collects the words of survivors to document and offer evidence of every step of the
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A moment ago, you honored Father Patrick Desbois. Through his own family history, he discovered the tragedy of
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International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Relations with the Jewish People and more recently, the
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In 1978, Father Desbois worked as a math teacher for the French government in Africa. He later worked for
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https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/Bekanntgabe-Ordensverleihung/2307-Verleihungen.html
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The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews
473:
The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews
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victims in all of Ukraine and Belarus. Speaking of his initial experience, Desbois narrated how:
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sent a blessing and a message of encouragement to Father Desbois and Yahad-In Unum, writing:
171:, the Humanitarian Award by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Jan Karski Award by the
34:
991:"French priest interviews Hitler's willing executioners in Ukraine - Haaretz - Israel News"
889:
788:
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March 4, 2014: he was honored by the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (
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in 2004. The organization collects information about the mass killing of Jews and Roma in
633:
February 5th, 2024: Eternal Flame award from the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies,
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January 25, 2023: Annetje Fels-Kupferschmidt Award from the Dutch Auschwitz Committee
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Patrick Desbois' book reflecting the work of Action Yazidis (with Costel Nastasie:
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127:
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189:(Palgrave-Macmillan). In 2013, he received the LBJ Moral Courage Award from the
714:
224:, and later Jewish religion and culture with Dr Charles Favre, a leader in the
196:
Between 2015 and 2016, he taught at the Program for Jewish Civilization in the
1108:'ISIS Is Not Dead' Says Priest Who Documented Ongoing Genocide Against Yazidis
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Award" for his "efforts to identify the mass graves of Jewish victims of the
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1157:"La Croix - Actualité en direct, informations France, Monde, Economie..."
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in Calcutta, where he helped set up homes for the dying. In 1986, he was
95:
63:
669:
In Broad Daylight: The Secret Procedures behind the Holocaust by Bullets
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369:
The Terrorist Factory â ISIS, the Yazidi Genocide, and Exporting Terror
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17:
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The Terrorist Factory: ISIS, the Yazidi Genocide, and Exporting Terror
671:, English translation by Hilary Reyl and Calvert Barksdale. New York:
78:(Cross of Merit 1st Class), Germany's highest honor for his work with
608:
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to Desbois for his commitment to religious tolerance and cooperation
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262:
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there arrived trucks and trucks and trucks of Jews from Rawa-Ruska."
55:
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In order to right the egregious wrong, Father Desbois helped found
405:
29:
1017:
Moment Magazine - The Next 5,000 Years of Conversation Begin Here
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413:
380:
156:
1249:"»The Catholic Review Online | Catholic newspaper, book review"
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of the Cardinal of Paris. He serves as well as advisor to the
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Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews
408:" and "his dedication to furthering understanding between
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820:"DĂ©cret du 21 mars 2008 portant promotion et nomination"
62:
of the French Bishops' Conference and consultant to the
547:
Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
436:
May 7, 2008: At the annual National Tribute Dinner the
652:, English translation by Catherine Spencer. New York:
344:. Father Desbois was interviewed in Sinjar in 2016 by
1231:"How Father Desbois Became a Holocaust Memory Keeper"
146:
Jewish victims of the Nazi mobile killing units, the
374:
152:, in the former Soviet republics and Eastern bloc.
58:, former head of the Commission for Relations with
626:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
76:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
585:Human Rights Prize from the Lantos Foundation
82:documenting the Holocaust in Eastern Europe.
375:Bishop's committee for relations with Judaism
8:
686:Father Patrick Desbois and Costel Nastasie,
782:
780:
778:
776:
1121:, facebook.com; accessed 27 January 2018.
594:Award at the ADL In Concert Against Hate
198:Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
1084:"Why did ISIS attack the Yezidi people?"
1037:Speech of François Hollande (March 2014)
873:
871:
869:
1295:United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
878:Sarah Breger (NovemberâDecember 2011).
772:
539:2013: LBJ Moral Courage Award from the
297:United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
1049:, zenit.org; accessed 27 January 2018.
561:Jewish Theological Seminary of America
909:
907:
7:
854:. PatrickDesbois.com. 17 August 2014
690:, English translation by. New York:
307:praised the work of Father Desbois:
155:His work has been sanctioned by the
396:May 1, 2007: he was honored by the
359:praised his work in November 2017:
159:, recognized and encouraged by the
1229:Horn, Jordana (January 23, 2009).
25:
74:, France's highest honor and the
741:
727:
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450:June 12, 2008: He received the
167:, the Roger E. Joseph Prize by
787:Logan, Lara (4 October 2015).
454:for his work on the Holocaust
1:
1325:French Roman Catholic priests
1291:Interview with Father Desbois
635:University of Texas at Dallas
607:and the Permanent Mission of
440:in Los Angeles presented the
1320:People from Chalon-sur-SaĂŽne
459:October 9, 2008: He won the
233:In 2002, while traveling in
27:French Roman Catholic priest
628:(Cross of Merit 1st Class)
342:genocide of Yazidis by ISIL
142:on relations with Judaism.
100:Catholic University of Lyon
66:. He is the founder of the
1341:
1205:"The Holocaust By Bullets"
496:National Jewish Book Award
469:National Jewish Book Award
181:National Jewish Book Award
915:"LBJ Moral Courage Award"
398:American Jewish Committee
371:) was published in 2018.
173:American Jewish Committee
1013:"A Priest Bears Witness"
919:Holocaust Museum Houston
880:"A Priest Bears Witness"
667:Father Patrick Desbois,
648:Father Patrick Desbois,
541:Holocaust Museum Houston
332:Work with Action Yazidis
191:Holocaust Museum Houston
1235:The Wall Street Journal
1132:"The Terrorist Factory"
490:2008: Recipient of the
461:Shofar of Freedom Award
438:Simon Wiesenthal Center
430:to Desbois in New York
209:Work with YahadâIn Unum
165:Simon Wiesenthal Center
1253:www.catholicreview.org
1110:, CBN News, 2018-07-23
965:"Rev. Patrick Desbois"
940:"Rev. Patrick Desbois"
789:"The Hidden Holocaust"
643:Publications (english)
592:Anti-Defamation League
532:University of Winnipeg
365:
329:
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38:
664:(trade paper edition)
605:World Jewish Congress
442:Jewish Medal of Valor
428:Roger E. Joseph Prize
361:
325:
309:
231:
202:Georgetown University
90:Desbois attended the
33:
1278:Yahad-In Unum's site
485:University (Israel)
186:Holocaust by Bullets
169:Hebrew Union College
1185:Jewish Book Council
692:Skyhorse Publishing
673:Skyhorse Publishing
574:St. Francis College
519:New York University
492:Jewish Book Council
422:May 4, 2008: Rabbi
161:President of France
92:Université de Dijon
1285:The New York Times
971:. 24 February 2016
892:on 5 November 2011
721:Catholicism portal
654:Palgrave Macmillan
590:November 8, 2018:
581:October 24, 2017:
570:honorary doctorate
557:honorary doctorate
528:honorary doctorate
515:honorary doctorate
502:honorary doctorate
479:honorary doctorate
385:Richard Williamson
183:for his 2008 book
39:
1136:Arcade Publishing
700:978-1-628-72946-7
681:978-1-628-72857-6
662:978-0-230-61757-5
549:) with its Award
506:Hebrew University
355:French president
348:on an episode of
305:François Hollande
303:French president
136:chargé de mission
132:Louis-Marie Billé
124:Albert Decourtray
16:(Redirected from
1332:
1273:Official website
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568:April 28, 2017:
563:(United States)
521:(United States)
452:LĂ©gion d'honneur
426:handed over the
72:LĂ©gion d'honneur
46:Chalon-sur-SaĂŽne
35:Hannah Rosenthal
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44:(born 1955, in
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1181:"Past Winners"
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1060:"BACK TO LIFE"
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1001:on 2009-05-21.
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944:georgetown.edu
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1064:BACK TO LIFE
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1283:Article in
1162:(in French)
924:1 September
852:"Biography"
292:Omer Bartov
1304:Categories
1215:2009-02-01
1190:2020-01-21
1166:2020-09-26
1141:2020-09-26
1094:2020-09-26
1069:2020-09-26
1023:2020-09-26
975:27 January
896:9 November
858:20 October
804:20 October
794:60 Minutes
768:References
702:(hardback)
683:(hardback)
583:Tom Lantos
410:Christians
402:Jan Karski
400:with its "
350:60 Minutes
346:Lara Logan
222:Yad-Vashem
215:Rava-Ruska
120:priesthood
1293:from the
572:from the
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534:(Canada)
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517:from the
508:(Israel)
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481:from the
271:Lithuania
98:from the
86:Education
1160:La Croix
799:CBS News
707:See also
694:, 2018.
675:, 2018.
656:, 2008.
483:Bar Ilan
116:ordained
96:theology
949:14 June
825:14 June
611:to the
383:bishop
338:Yazidis
336:Action
295:of the
283:Romania
279:Moldova
267:Belarus
259:Ukraine
235:Ukraine
140:Vatican
118:in the
64:Vatican
60:Judaism
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609:Rwanda
391:Awards
275:Poland
263:Russia
175:, the
106:Career
56:priest
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406:Shoah
249:you."
977:2018
951:2016
926:2014
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827:2016
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