During World War II, for the first time in the history of mankind, the destruction of a people was scheduled by the Nazis on the basis of anti-Semitic hatred leading to the genocide of five to six million European Jews.

In occupied France, the 'final solution' resulted in the deportation of nearly 74,000 people in 74 convoys between March 1942 and August 1944. Less than 5,000 returned. The northeastern suburbs of Paris were at the heart of this murderous machinery. From July 1943 until August 1944, taking over from Le Bourget, Bobigny station was used as the starting point to deport nearly one-third of the Jews from France to Auschwitz-Birkenau. From this place, 22,500 men, women and children underwent the ordeal of deportation. The vast majority of these people were exterminated upon arrival at the camp.