Scalp the Zazous

Paragon — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:50:46 -0800

"Imagine, amid the grey serge of wartime France, a tribe of youngsters with all the colourful decadence of punks or teddy boys. Wearing zoot suits cut off at the knee (the better to show off their brightly coloured socks), with hair sculpted into grand quiffs, and shoes with triple-height soles - looking like glam-rock footwear 30 years early - these were the kids who would lay the foundations of nightclubbing. Ladies and gentlemen, les Zazous." Similar to the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Kids of Germany and the Schlurfs of Austria, Les Zazous protested Nazi 'culture' through their dress, dance, and other acts of nonconformism. "When the yellow star was forced on Jews, non-Jews who objected began to wear yellow stars with 'Buddhist', 'Goy' (Gentile) or 'Victory'. Some Zazous took this up, with 'Zazou' written below the star. When the French Jews were removed from the scene, the Vichy regime and their Nazi masters turned on the Zazous." "Soon, round-ups began in bars and Zazous were beaten on the street. They became Enemy Number One of the fascist youth organisations, Jeunesse Populaire Française. 'Scalp the Zazous!' became their slogan. Squads of young JPF fascists armed with hairclippers attacked Zazous. Many were arrested and sent to the countryside to work on the harvest." Zazous: dancing under the Nazis in France Images of Les Zazous Inspirations: Zaz Zuh Zaz, by Cab Calloway Georges Brassens' cover of Je Suis Swing, by Johnny Hess Ils Sont Zazous, by Johnny Hess

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Scalp the Zazous