Archives open at Rodez

The Aveyron departmental archives relating to the period 1939 - 1944 are now open to public scrutiny after having been labelled "sensitive" and therefore not available. Local records relate to cases brought before the courts in Vichy France and under the German Occupation. Given that apart from the usual criminal cases there were many politically based prosecutions, often the result of "denonciations" it is clear that some families would want evidence of this collaboration with the nazi powers kept quiet. The archives have many of the original hand written testimonies that would tear families apart in those dark days of France's history.

Documents from the archives

Ironically we "benevoles" involved with the refugees were recently called "collabos" on a far right web site, by a "facho" who just wanted to "smash their faces in". These people are the direct inheritors of those who denounced their fellow citizens and handed over Jewish refugees to Nazi rulers and French fascist sympathisers .
We must continue to oppose these bullies who wrap themselves in the tricolor; they would just love to get their brown shirts on again.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Following on from an earlier post I wanted to know more about " the Milice"

The Milice française (French Militia), generally called the Milice (French pronunciation: ​[milis]), was a paramilitary force created on January 30, 1943 by the Vichy regime (with German aid) to help fight the French Resistance during World War II. The Milice's formal head was Prime Minister Pierre Laval, although its Chief of operations and de facto leader was Secretary General Joseph Darnand. It participated in summary executions and assassinations, helping to round up Jews and résistants in France for deportation. It was the successor to Joseph Darnand's Service d'ordre légionnaire (SOL) militia.

The Milice frequently used torture to extract information or confessions from those whom they interrogated. The French Resistance considered the Milice more dangerous than the Gestapo and SS because they were native Frenchmen who understood local dialects fluently, had extensive knowledge of the towns and countryside, and knew local people and informants.

Milice troops (known as miliciens) wore a blue uniform jacket, brown shirt and a wide blueberet. (During active paramilitary-style operations, a pre-war French Army helmet was used.) Its newspaper was Combats (not to be confused with the underground Resistance newspaper, Combat). It employed full-time and part-time personnel, and had a youth wing. The Milice's armed forces were officially known as the Franc-Garde. Contemporary photographs show the Milice armed with a variety of weapons captured from Allied forces.

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

I was loved by a monster

Tonight on France 3 local news Philippe Druillet, originally from the Gers, was talking about his parents who were collaborators in the Second World War. It made quite an impression on me when he said '' I was loved by a monster''. His mother he says was a Fascist through and through,  in her bones. His father was Head of the local  Milice, who were the worst kind of collaborator. Phillipe has tried  put all this behind him and now writes and does the art work for bandes dessinees / comic books which are an important genre of book in France. He has published an autobiography "Delirium" - without pictures.
If you are a fan of sci fi, fantasy artwork this man is a genius, worth googling him to look at his art.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com