Nazi Labour Camps in Paris: Austerlitz, Lévitan, Bassano, July 1943-August 1944
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Author Description
On 18 July 1943, one-hundred and twenty Jews were transported from the concentration camp at Drancy to the Lévitan furniture store building in the middle of Paris. These were the first detainees of three satellite camps (Lévitan, Austerlitz, Bassano) in Paris. Between July 1943 and August 1944, nearly eight hundred prisoners spent a few weeks to a year in one of these buildings, previously been used to store furniture, and were subjected to forced labor. Although the history of the persecution and deportation of France’s Jews is well known, the three Parisian satellite camps have been subjected to the silence of both memory and history. This lack of attention by the most authoritative voices on the subject can perhaps be explained by the absence of a collective memory or by the marginal status of the Parisian detainees - the spouses of Aryans, wives of prisoners of war, half-Jews. Still, the Parisian camps did, and continue to this day, lack simple and straightforward descriptions. This book is a much needed study of these camps and is witness to how, sixty years after the events, expressing this memory remains a complex, sometimes painful process, and speaking about it a struggle.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the history and memory of three lesser-known Nazi labor camps established within Paris during World War II. Between July 1943 and August 1944, nearly eight hundred Jewish prisoners were held in the Lévitan, Austerlitz, and Bassano buildings, subjected to forced labor. The authors explore why these camps, despite their significant role in the persecution of French Jews, have been largely overlooked by historical accounts and collective memory. The book examines the complex and often painful process of remembering and articulating the experiences of these marginalized detainees, including those with Aryan spouses or who were half-Jewish.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Detailed account of the establishment and operation of the Lévitan, Austerlitz, and Bassano satellite camps in Paris.
- Analysis of the historical silence surrounding these camps and the reasons for their marginalization in Holocaust studies.
- Exploration of the diverse backgrounds of the nearly eight hundred prisoners, including those with Aryan spouses and half-Jews.
- Examination of the forced labor conditions and the daily lives of detainees between July 1943 and August 1944.
- Discussion of the challenges and complexities of expressing and preserving the memory of these events sixty years later.
- Use of historical documents and testimonies to reconstruct the experiences of the prisoners.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The book addresses a significant gap in the historical record concerning the Nazi labor camps in Paris, aiming to bring these overlooked sites and their detainees into clearer historical focus. The authors highlight the difficulties in accessing and articulating the memory of these events, suggesting that the marginal status of the prisoners and the lack of a strong collective memory have contributed to their historical silence. This study serves as a crucial effort to document and understand a painful chapter of history, sixty years after the events transpired. The work is positioned as a necessary contribution to understanding the broader history of Jewish persecution in France.
Page Count:
176
Publication Date:
2013-12-01
Publisher:
Berghahn Books
ISBN-10:
1782381139
ISBN-13:
9781782381136
History
Non-Fiction
Forced Labor
Community Tags
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