Simone Segouin
There was a very interesting talk in St.-Rémy-de-Provence the other night, about women in the French Resistance. It focused particular attention on St.-Rémy, where I live part of the year.
The talk was organized by the local historical society and featured two historians who specialize in the subject. The event was held at the town’s movie theater and was surprisingly full.
Interest may be strong here because the great Resistance leader Jean Moulin had a home in nearby St.-Andiol. He was a member of Charles de Gaulle’s government-in-exile in London. In 1942 he parachuted into the nearby Alpilles mountains, in the dead of night, to organize competing factions into what we now call the Resistance.
You can read the rest of the article at Perfectly Provence.
I’ve just finished binging on seasons 1-6 of “A French Village” here in the States, and learned so much. I had no idea about the vigilante justice and the post war trails.
In France, the post-war purge of collaborators (as well as innocent people) is called l’Épuration, from the word for purification.
I live in the town where the man who betrayed Jean Moulin came from. I’ve never dared blog about it.
I can certainly understand that!
An especially interesting post, Keith.
Once again the Saint-Remy area reveals so much of
interest and history. What a wonderful presentation you
and Val were able to attend (and understand!)