Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: French child evacuees of World War Two

Documentaries

Columbus Lighthouse

05/03/2024 GMT

French child evacuees of World War Two

BBC World Service - Witness History, French child evacuees of World War Two

In World War Two, tens of thousands of children left Paris to escape the threat of bombs

In World War Two, tens of thousands of children left the French capital to the country, escaping the threat of German bombs. Nine-year-old Colette Martel was among them.

In August and September 1939, tens of thousands of children began to be evacuated from Paris.

The move, part of France's 'passive defence' tactic, aimed to protect children from the threat of German bombardment.

Colette Martel was just nine when she was taken from Paris to Savigny-Poil-Fol, a small town more than 300km from her home.

She’s been speaking to her granddaughter, Carolyn Lamboley, about how her life changed. She particularly remembers how she struggled to fit in with her host family, and how it all changed because of a pair of clogs.

(Photo: Colette (left) with her sister Solange in 1939. Credit: family photo)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

French child evacuees of World War Two

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service