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When in 1806, and t’en again in 1812, the Grande Armée penetrated what had been Poland-Lithuania, the question as to the attitude adopted by the Jewish communities towards the passing of the imperial army became crucial, and yet it has been minimised in the historiography. Mutual assistance, exchange of supplies and information, recruitment in diverse forms – these were all aspects very present in all the military departments, so much so that many witness accounts exist. Polish Jews were furthermore to participate not only in the mutations of the Grand Empire but also in the changes occurring amongst European Jews generally.