20:
226:, 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."
230:
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.
704:
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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
278:
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
233:
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
217:
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
134:
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
229:
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
288:
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,
304:. 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.
274:
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.
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604:
193:
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.
26:, 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)
237:
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
123:. 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
368:
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
316:
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.
202:
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
83:, 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
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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
745:
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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.
152:
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
535:
449:
406:
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376:. 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.
59:, 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
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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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111:. 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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341:. 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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444:
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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
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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:
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160:, the Humanitarian Award by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Jan Karski Award by the
1298:
980:"French priest interviews Hitler's willing executioners in Ukraine - Haaretz - Israel News"
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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
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February 5th, 2024: Eternal Flame award from the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies,
34:
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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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178:(Palgrave-Macmillan). In 2013, he received the LBJ Moral Courage Award from the
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589:
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301:
213:, and later Jewish religion and culture with Dr Charles Favre, a leader in the
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Between 2015 and 2016, he taught at the Program for Jewish Civilization in the
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1097:'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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38:
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1146:"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
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In Broad Daylight: The Secret Procedures behind the Holocaust by Bullets
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The Terrorist Factory â ISIS, the Yazidi Genocide, and Exporting Terror
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The Terrorist Factory: ISIS, the Yazidi Genocide, and Exporting Terror
660:, English translation by Hilary Reyl and Calvert Barksdale. New York:
67:(Cross of Merit 1st Class), Germany's highest honor for his work with
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to Desbois for his commitment to religious tolerance and cooperation
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there arrived trucks and trucks and trucks of Jews from Rawa-Ruska."
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In order to right the egregious wrong, Father Desbois helped found
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Moment Magazine - The Next 5,000 Years of Conversation Begin Here
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1238:"»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
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397:" and "his dedication to furthering understanding between
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809:"DĂ©cret du 21 mars 2008 portant promotion et nomination"
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of the French Bishops' Conference and consultant to the
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Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France
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May 7, 2008: At the annual National Tribute Dinner the
641:, English translation by Catherine Spencer. New York:
333:. Father Desbois was interviewed in Sinjar in 2016 by
1220:"How Father Desbois Became a Holocaust Memory Keeper"
135:
Jewish victims of the Nazi mobile killing units, the
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801:
141:, in the former Soviet republics and Eastern bloc.
47:, former head of the Commission for Relations with
615:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
65:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
1290:
574:Human Rights Prize from the Lantos Foundation
71:documenting the Holocaust in Eastern Europe.
364:Bishop's committee for relations with Judaism
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675:Father Patrick Desbois and Costel Nastasie,
771:
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767:
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197:
1110:, facebook.com; accessed 27 January 2018.
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583:Award at the ADL In Concert Against Hate
187:Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
1143:
1073:"Why did ISIS attack the Yezidi people?"
1026:Speech of François Hollande (March 2014)
862:
860:
858:
762:
18:
1284:United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
867:Sarah Breger (NovemberâDecember 2011).
528:2013: LBJ Moral Courage Award from the
286:United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
1291:
1038:, zenit.org; accessed 27 January 2018.
550:Jewish Theological Seminary of America
898:
896:
855:
775:
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843:. PatrickDesbois.com. 17 August 2014
679:, English translation by. New York:
296:praised the work of Father Desbois:
144:His work has been sanctioned by the
385:May 1, 2007: he was honored by the
348:praised his work in November 2017:
148:, recognized and encouraged by the
13:
1218:Horn, Jordana (January 23, 2009).
893:
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63:, France's highest honor and the
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439:June 12, 2008: He received the
156:, the Roger E. Joseph Prize by
972:
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921:
833:
822:
776:Logan, Lara (4 October 2015).
443:for his work on the Holocaust
1:
1314:French Roman Catholic priests
1280:Interview with Father Desbois
756:
624:University of Texas at Dallas
596:and the Permanent Mission of
429:in Los Angeles presented the
1309:People from Chalon-sur-SaĂŽne
448:October 9, 2008: He won the
222:In 2002, while traveling in
74:
16:French Roman Catholic priest
7:
695:
617:(Cross of Merit 1st Class)
331:genocide of Yazidis by ISIL
131:on relations with Judaism.
89:Catholic University of Lyon
55:. He is the founder of the
10:
1330:
1194:"The Holocaust By Bullets"
485:National Jewish Book Award
458:National Jewish Book Award
170:National Jewish Book Award
904:"LBJ Moral Courage Award"
387:American Jewish Committee
379:
360:) was published in 2018.
162:American Jewish Committee
94:
1002:"A Priest Bears Witness"
908:Holocaust Museum Houston
869:"A Priest Bears Witness"
656:Father Patrick Desbois,
637:Father Patrick Desbois,
530:Holocaust Museum Houston
321:Work with Action Yazidis
180:Holocaust Museum Houston
1224:The Wall Street Journal
1121:"The Terrorist Factory"
479:2008: Recipient of the
450:Shofar of Freedom Award
427:Simon Wiesenthal Center
419:to Desbois in New York
198:Work with YahadâIn Unum
154:Simon Wiesenthal Center
1242:www.catholicreview.org
1099:, CBN News, 2018-07-23
954:"Rev. Patrick Desbois"
929:"Rev. Patrick Desbois"
778:"The Hidden Holocaust"
632:Publications (english)
581:Anti-Defamation League
521:University of Winnipeg
354:
318:
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240:
27:
653:(trade paper edition)
594:World Jewish Congress
431:Jewish Medal of Valor
417:Roger E. Joseph Prize
350:
314:
298:
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191:Georgetown University
79:Desbois attended the
22:
1267:Yahad-In Unum's site
474:University (Israel)
175:Holocaust by Bullets
158:Hebrew Union College
1174:Jewish Book Council
681:Skyhorse Publishing
662:Skyhorse Publishing
563:St. Francis College
508:New York University
481:Jewish Book Council
411:May 4, 2008: Rabbi
150:President of France
81:Université de Dijon
1274:The New York Times
960:. 24 February 2016
881:on 5 November 2011
710:Catholicism portal
643:Palgrave Macmillan
579:November 8, 2018:
570:October 24, 2017:
559:honorary doctorate
546:honorary doctorate
517:honorary doctorate
504:honorary doctorate
491:honorary doctorate
468:honorary doctorate
374:Richard Williamson
172:for his 2008 book
28:
1125:Arcade Publishing
689:978-1-628-72946-7
670:978-1-628-72857-6
651:978-0-230-61757-5
538:) with its Award
495:Hebrew University
344:French president
337:on an episode of
294:François Hollande
292:French president
125:chargé de mission
121:Louis-Marie Billé
113:Albert Decourtray
1321:
1262:Official website
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552:(United States)
510:(United States)
441:LĂ©gion d'honneur
415:handed over the
61:LĂ©gion d'honneur
35:Chalon-sur-SaĂŽne
24:Hannah Rosenthal
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565:(United States)
456:2008: He won a
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33:(born 1955, in
31:Patrick Desbois
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1170:"Past Winners"
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1144:La-Croix.com.
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1049:"BACK TO LIFE"
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990:on 2009-05-21.
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933:georgetown.edu
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724:Judaism portal
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302:Ukrainian Jews
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1079:. 8 May 2016
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1053:BACK TO LIFE
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1008:. 2012-02-07
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166:B'nai B'rith
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117:Jean Balland
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1299:1955 births
1272:Article in
1151:(in French)
913:1 September
841:"Biography"
281:Omer Bartov
1293:Categories
1204:2009-02-01
1179:2020-01-21
1155:2020-09-26
1130:2020-09-26
1083:2020-09-26
1058:2020-09-26
1012:2020-09-26
964:27 January
885:9 November
847:20 October
793:20 October
783:60 Minutes
757:References
691:(hardback)
672:(hardback)
572:Tom Lantos
399:Christians
391:Jan Karski
389:with its "
339:60 Minutes
335:Lara Logan
211:Yad-Vashem
204:Rava-Ruska
109:priesthood
1282:from the
561:from the
548:from the
523:(Canada)
519:from the
506:from the
497:(Israel)
493:from the
470:from the
260:Lithuania
87:from the
75:Education
1149:La Croix
788:CBS News
696:See also
683:, 2018.
664:, 2018.
645:, 2008.
472:Bar Ilan
105:ordained
85:theology
938:14 June
814:14 June
600:to the
372:bishop
327:Yazidis
325:Action
284:of the
272:Romania
268:Moldova
256:Belarus
248:Ukraine
224:Ukraine
129:Vatican
107:in the
53:Vatican
49:Judaism
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687:
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598:Rwanda
380:Awards
264:Poland
252:Russia
164:, the
95:Career
45:priest
39:French
395:Shoah
238:you."
966:2018
940:2016
915:2014
887:2011
849:2015
816:2016
795:2015
685:ISBN
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647:ISBN
460:for
403:Jews
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370:SSPX
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