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Witness History: French child evacuees of World War Two

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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)

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