Netflix’s Transatlantic and the story of the Chinese Visas out of Marseille in WW2

Posted: August 22nd, 2023 | No Comments »

I am sure that many members know this story better than me (as it’s slightly confusing) but the Netflix show Transatlantic, based on the efforts of Varian Fry and the Emergency Rescue Commitee to assist Jewish artists and intellectuals escape the French Free Zone and Europe through Marseille does have a small China angle (in episode 6). It’s loosely based on Julia Orringer’s book, The Flight Portfolio.

It is a mix of fact, slightly altered facts and pure fiction, but it does reference the story of the Chinese Consul in Marseille who issued apparent visas that in Chinese characters said : “This person shall not, under any circumstances, be allowed to enter China.” But they looked and were official while Vichy French officials couldn’t read them and assumed them to be genuine transit visas thus allowing refugees to exit Vichy France. Some were also issued in Thai by the Kingdom of Siam Consul too, I believe – equally indecipherable to Vichy French officials. The series also shows the French Resistance forging Chinese visas – but i’m not sure this actually happened.

I don’t think anyone went from Marseille to China/Shanghai, but rather used them to get aboard boats to America. The French wised up to the Chinese/Siamese trick eventually.

Anyone who knows more how it all worked please get in touch?

Lisa Fittko mentions it in her memoirs – Escape Through the Pyrenees – and claims it was 100 Francs for a visa – I think she’s slightly misremembering as other sources say it was the visa application fee that was 100 Francs – the paperwork technically useless but fooled many immigration officers and border guards. The Chinese Consulate in Marseille was located at 26 Rue Nau, in the city centre and was open from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. An office in Rue Saint Ferréol also issued Chinese visas, apparently.

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