From Bobigny to Hamburg, from Hamburg to the banks of the Elbe, and at last home to Paris. Jean’s words, and the wider history unfolding around him.
February 11, 1943
With a heavy heart, leaving for Germany.
“This time left Bobigny early after saying goodbye to my parents”
February 13 – July 28, 1943
First camp: the Bürgersaal hotel.
“Then sent to the employment office, off to the camp at the Bürgersaal hotel, on the whole pretty well housed.”
Just after his arrival, on February 13.
August 2, 1943
A dynamite plant and a vermin-infested camp.
“In the afternoon taken to the camp 50 of us are housed there.”
October 1943 – April 1945
Back to the factory, or what is left of it.
“Back to work in our factory in ruins.”
April 14 – May 1, 1945
Evacuated toward the Elbe, then trenches and ammunition for the German army. On May 1 at 9 a.m., Jean is free.
Somewhere about ten kilometers from Boizenburg, according to the notebook. The village’s name remains unknown.
at noon we get off the train. Here we are dropped off 80 km from the city.
Around 6 in the evening we set off in a column to reach another village and spent the night in a wood near a [potato silo].
Around 8 on the road to try to cross the Elbe but around 11 it was too late to get across
the German army requisitioned us to dig trenches!
At noon we leave by truck to go to the same place as the night before, once there the German officer mad with rage locks us up in a shed.
The boches order us to evacuate to the rear. But we stay put, waiting for deliverance.
“at 9 the white flag is raised and we have just been liberated.”
May 17, 1945
Delousing, food and, at last, the 5 p.m. train.
“6 km from that town after delousing and a bite to eat, we head off around 1 p.m. for the train. Left at 5 p.m.”
May 21, 1945, at 2 a.m.
Home, after more than two years away.
“Arrived at Paris Nord at 2 in the morning.”
Having left Jeumont on the 20th at 4 p.m., the train arrives after midnight: it is already the 21st.