(Jewish Law), anti-Jewish laws passed by the collaborating French Vichy government in two stages in October 1940 and June 1941. These laws were created purely on the initiative of the French government and not by the Nazis themselves.
On October 3, 1940 the government passed its first widespread Anti-Jewish Legislation. This included an even stricter definition of who was a Jew than the Nazis allowed: under Vichy, someone was Jewish if he or she had three Jewish grandparents, or two Jewish grandparents if his or her spouse was also Jewish. The first Jewish Law also called for the drastic cutback of Jewish involvement in French society. Jews were to be excluded from the army officer corps and noncommissioned officer posts, top government administration positions, and any other job that influenced public opinion. They were only allowed to hold low-level public-service jobs if they had fought in World War I or distinguished themselves in battle in 1939--1940, and they were limited within liberal professions.
The second Jewish Law was issued on June 2, 1941. It made the definition of a Jew even more rigid, and called for the removal of Jews from industry, business, and liberal professions. Only a few Jews were exempted from these cutbacks. (For more on Vichy, see also France.)
