maude Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hi ,anyone know how to try and track down local history,especially regarding houses or communes.We were told when we bought this house,2002,that there was no history prior to 1946!I believe ther is an archive dept somewher in La roche Sur Yon,but cant find it after searching.Considering that we were within the local coal fields and railway system,there must obviously been some considerable Occupation.Now do not obviously want to upset anyone locally,but to the French there does not seem to be any interest or concern over about the local history.Our very close neighbour used to own and live in part of what is now our house,but when asked if she had any old photo,s or history just gave the standard Non and that was that.It also used to a cafe so there must be some records.Just for interest,the ex farm cottage attached still has an old rusty,flag pole holder in the wall.There is no way on earth that the peasant familly living there had anything whatsoever to celebrate with a flag,judging on the state of the place even now after being a maison secondaire for the past ten years.Considering also that the local forest has a very upsetting 1944 memorial to 7 executed local men,there is a large amount of local history to be researched without upsetting local residents.We have noticed in the last 4 years that apart from the official celebrations such as Armistice day etc,there still seems to be a French parity with the N.Koreans who have "rewritten"history, in that it never happenned or has been pushed under the carpet.Just extremely curious and intersted for history sake. Maude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Your neighbours' reaction is very odd and quite different to what we have found - the folks are happy to talk about what they remember/have been told by parents about the war, as well as the general history of the former farm where we live. The Mairie gave us the address of a local historical society - you could try there. I don't know if it is always the case in every dept., but the departmental archives for the Orne are kept at Alençon, seat of the prefecture. Also, have you tried your library for info and to ask if there is a historical society? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 A lot was swept under the carpet in the name of national unity - we recently discussed how the 'French' SS soldiers at Oradour were never pursued; as were many collaborators. In the nature of these things the women who slept with Germans were beaten up, humiliated and I believe in some cases killed, but the police chiefs and businessmen (and Maurice Chevalier & Mistanguette) were largely immune to retaliation. But how could the country have been put back on its feet in what would have become almost a civil war without those administrators and law enforcement officials? And remember the part played by the USA and to an extent the UK, fearing as they did that France might 'go communist'.I think (odd though it may seem) that Simenon's reluctance to describe any of Maigret's wartime adventures is a symptom of this blind spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Were town and country were different in those respects, Dick? I really don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I don't know a huge amount about it, but I suspect they were. People in the countryside seem to have been more resistant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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