On this day, 27 March 1942, France’s collaborationist Vichy government issued the barbershop decree, demanding that barbers collect cut hair and donate it to the war effort to make slippers and sweaters. The rebellious Zazous refused and grew their hair long.
Zazous were anti-fascist youths who wore dapper suits, listened to jazz and swing music by largely Black and Jewish musicians and fought with fascists on the street. Police rounded them up, and Vichy fascist youth groups hunted them down and cut their hair.
More info in our podcast episode 4 about youth resistance to Nazism during World War II. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or go to our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/2018/04/04/wch4-anti-nazi-youth-movements-in-world-war-ii/ https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1951002461751561/?type=3