Main content

French child evacuees of World War Two

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鈥檚 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)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 6 Mar 2024 03:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 08:50GMT
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 12:50GMT
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 18:50GMT
  • Tue 5 Mar 2024 23:50GMT
  • Wed 6 Mar 2024 03:50GMT

Featured in...

Podcast