European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

Distinguishing between Germans and Nazis

We tried to go undercover as much as possible during the German occupation,

even though I was not totally undercover. I still lived with my parents.

We thought about how we could distribute our leaflets.

Our concern was the French population, not the Germans. It was necessary to fight against the occupiers.

In the camps we met civilized, working Germans.

Sometimes that led to discussions between us.

I always defended the idea that these people were not necessarily Nazis.

As French people worked, they worked here and that one had to respect.

Then it was their responsibility. They knew who we were,

in our striped uniforms and some had a friendly word for us, in German, which we had to learn.

I always said that one should not mix up the SS and the Germans we met at work.

The SS made a choice. They opted for the regime, the system.

Three, four years after coming back I was talking to some friends who said:

“We are going to Germany, to meet some people. But of course we won’t ask you to come along.”

I said: “Why won’t you ask me to go with you? Are you afraid that I will say that all Germans are fascists?

Not way. If you want me to, I will come along. I promise I will behave correctly towards the Germans we meet.

That won’t stop me from saying what happened in the camps.

But I will not say THE Germans.”