Rachel de Champlain: A Friend Lost

The Nightingale

The tragic fate of Vianne's best friend, from deportation to death in Auschwitz.

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Bearing strength in each event

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The Best Friend The Best Friend from "The Nightingale". A Lifelong Bond The Neighbors Rachel and Vianne have been best friends for fifteen years. They teach together, raise their children together.

The Best Friend from "The Nightingale". A Lifelong Bond The Neighbors Rachel and Vianne have been best friends for fifteen years. They teach together, raise their children together.

A Lifelong Bond The Neighbors Rachel and Vianne have been best friends for fifteen years. They teach together, raise their children together. Rachel is strong, outspoken, Jewish. The War Begins When their husbands are mobilized, they lean on each other. Rachel jokes to keep Vianne's spirits up. The Yellow Star Rachel is forced to wear the yellow star. She is humiliated. Vianne stands by her.

The Attempted Escape The Attempted Escape from "The Nightingale". A Desperate Plan Beck's Warning Beck warns that Rachel will be deported. Vianne hides her in the barn. They try to cross into the Free Zone.

The Attempted Escape from "The Nightingale". A Desperate Plan Beck's Warning Beck warns that Rachel will be deported. Vianne hides her in the barn. They try to cross into the Free Zone.

A Desperate Plan Beck's Warning Beck warns that Rachel will be deported. Vianne hides her in the barn. They try to cross into the Free Zone. Sarah's Death At the checkpoint, German soldiers open fire. Sarah is shot and killed. Rachel is devastated. The Return They go back to Le Jardin. Rachel hides in the cellar. The next day, she is arrested.

Deportation and Death Deportation and Death from "The Nightingale". The Cattle Car The Train Station Rachel is forced onto a cattle car. She gives Ari to Vianne. She waves goodbye. Auschwitz Rachel is sent to Auschwitz.

Deportation and Death from "The Nightingale". The Cattle Car The Train Station Rachel is forced onto a cattle car. She gives Ari to Vianne. She waves goodbye. Auschwitz Rachel is sent to Auschwitz.

The Cattle Car The Train Station Rachel is forced onto a cattle car. She gives Ari to Vianne. She waves goodbye. Auschwitz Rachel is sent to Auschwitz. She dies within a month. Her husband Marc also dies in a POW camp. The Legacy Vianne raises Ari as her own. She never forgets Rachel. Their friendship endures beyond death.

August 1939 – June 1940

July 1942