Vel d’Hiv was a place in Paris, France that was originally used for social, political, and sports events until July 1942. In July 1942 13,000 Jews were captured, held under inhuman conditions, and deported. There were 4000 children deported under the age of 16 and none of them returned. Today Vel d’Hiv is a bustling with people; however, people rarely notice the small plaque in on a small patch of Greenland commemorating the Jews that were deported.

My problem with Vel d’Hiv is the lack of people that go there and distant memory of Jews who were French citizens. Nobody knows what happened to the people who did not return especially the children. Knowing what took place during the holocaust; killing of women, children, and elders, it is simple to take a guess at what happened to the people who did not return. My guess is that most of them were killed of permanently displaced. Which is why it angers me that more people have not stopped for just a minute or so to look at that little patch of land and pay their respects to the deported Jews. I believe that more should be done to draw attention to that small patch of lands; maybe a statue of bags, or even an expansion of the land for more space. Host events related to the Holocaust there, show documentaries related to the holocaust, or even tell the whole truth about France’s involvement during the holocaust. Also believe that more needs to be done to promoting the location in a way that does not commercialize or exploit the holocaust, but rather shed more light on the subject in a away so those Jews can never be forgotten. The problem is that the French attempt to water down their involvement in the holocaust even though they have admitted to being involved. Compensation also needs to be paid to the Jewish community and any survivors of the holocaust.