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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario in April 1940
Vierville, Tuesday, April 2, 1940(EXTRACTS)
I've been alone since Sunday night, my dear children, the whole colony left the old house with regret, it was a splendid time., we were joining Coutances without training. I knew yesterday by a phone call that the trip had gone well....
...I'm glad to know you're healthy, but as you say, is this good that measles is spread? Yves has regained strength in the good air, he needed it, devouring the good butter, the girl had lost nothing of her roundness, as for the boys they enjoyed these days of rest. We had the chance to have beautiful and warm days, so that we put the canoe to water; we were looking for beautiful mussels on rocks of the Percaea inaccessible on dry foot and we made some ballads With sails !! They complete their tools gradually; with the help of a sailing boat from Grandcamp they have equipped their 2 ships of bridges that prevent water from entering, they have secured the drifts and bought 2 paddles; you see that your Easter money has been very useful, moreover I have letters that will leave this week with some papers to your address.
....The corporal hopes to come this summer on leave here; he repeats it to me in each of his letters, the brave little one. As I said in my previous letter he had written to us that he was going to.... X . And we waited impatiently for the new address when two days after Phil told us that, armed in a war of foot in course, he had left with the whole battalion in bus; to lie on hard, I don't know where, then... back to Poissy!!! he and 20 of his sapeurs for which he is head and responsible. Here he is now in a beautiful castle around Paris where he has to his delight, a room for himself alone. This had not happened for a long time, and he can finally do a little less than a toilet; there have been a thousand more sappers, and materials that he has to classify to build barracks. Phil wonders what is worth this favor treatment, because all the other comrades of the battalion have left for...q part in France. I think he's very well noted by his leaders, that's what a sergeant has told him who saw his notes, and the studies he did for a year at the TP could only serve him for the job he leads.Finally, it's so much peace for Suzon (we too) who thought without joy in the future; there is something to do.
...No, of course, but there are still some, Jean C. told me that he had 25 a radio division. That certainly does not look like the hecacombs of 1918, but what does Hitler have in mind?
...We send back farmers for 15 days, 1 month, because our women can't hold on to kids between 14 and 18 years of age as helpers, and the work of the land is done properly.
... Jean C wrote today that he is delighted with his new work which reminds him of his usual profession. He goes to Paris every week to report on what is done. He met again this time with Challos whose work he oversees, (roar!) and Rebuffet.
... Georges lost his dear friend, (Marcel Hersent) He had to return to Paris but he had to return to Tunisia where he was on a special assignment, therefore in civilian clothes; this was not the case of Jean C. who was still wearing uniforms and who was proposed for the rank of captain. He deserved to have accepted all the work with a smile.
...Our boys were in Rouen on Thursday to pass the first part of their PMS – the 2nd The final exams will take place in August - it is obligatory for the students who prepare the great schools. Our guys found among their examiners Lt François de Bughas who while keeping his role on examination, then brought them to his office and gave them their notes by talking friendly with them. The notes do not usually give themselves. JP has 470 points out of 500-Fr 435, Mich 400 (he absolutely wanted to pass without being obliged to do so, both because of his age and because he prepares Navale. The exams for l的X will soon be held in Coutances and for Centrale in Paris. Simon intends to accompany Michel to Cherbourg on the 1stir June for his exam at Navale and as a trial, he did not do his program and it is a pity perhaps because there was a lot of luck. It will be for next year and almost certainly.Your sisters will settle in Villers where they were seeing what he was returning to. The villas are much more comfortable, and the studies for the great schools are normally done there. So they will leave Coutances in July, without much regret, they were settled there as refugees and paid very much. In these circumstances it is possible that if I do not return to Paris, I will move with Suzon to a villa; Simon with her mother-in-law and her children in another. I do not want to start over a winter like the one that just passed away, so cold and so lonely, but I would rather not settle down with Mrs Cordelle who is a pleasant and easy woman to live, but I hardly like the lives where everything is in common. What do you think my Jean? Suzon will be happy for the reason I give you, it is very difficult to keep her as for himself, and yet Mrs C. is certainly very delicate.
.....In the course of days of good weather we had a real tidal wave suddenly arrived and left the same on the day of the equinox. The boulevard of the sea was unaffordable, all the gardens flooded, that of the Guignards among others where there is still 60cm water in the bottom. Everything is to be done in this case in a garden. The land itself is unusable. It seems that the spectacle seen from the cliff was splendid, but when the sea sarged, we found the road invaded with pebbles and large excavations at the protections that follow to St. Lawrence. I regret less and less having the old house where it is, but it was necessary to close the Persians on the sea side to shelter us from the wind that was infiltrating everywhere. The good weather that followed allowed our people to work firm in the garden, it takes very good look and this year we will have a beautiful harvest of potatoes and vegetables. We must not see what the months will next, we draw up tomorrow the food card for all of France. It doesn't matter to the old and the little ones who will always have enough, but I wonder how we will spread out before appetites like those of our boys.
....I don't know if I told you that they see young girls and boys of their age, including the Poivre, 2 boys, 2 girls, inhabitants of the Than mansion, and the little girl of the founder of Centrale, Miss Autone; good children, well-bred, will make them good meetings for the summer. The parents of this house will have a villa by the sea. This will be better than the casual knowledge of the hotels. Moreover, these are always requisitioned, often inhabited by refugees and will not open for the summer season. Piprel serves as a haven for some 40 little Parisian children accompanied by women and teachers who have done the greatest good.
.... There's nothing new about replacing our priest. St. Lawrence's is an admirable dedication to 5 I hope to see him one of these days and ask him to bring me Holy Communion. I can't even get out early in the morning on my own.
....Phil has not yet a Postal Sector and for cause, you must be in the Army area. Your sisters have taken great care of his sappers and those of Jean C.
....Visit also of Piprel, who came to take news from me, he is as I am, he is aging, his two sons are learning, one at a roaster, the other at a horticulturalist. ......he deplores the condition of his house, so well held ordinary, since he has been housing all these little Parisians. ???? He agreed to settle this right of way in the field, and since neither he nor I know the price, it was agreed that Mr. Pommier, our notary, would fix the price. It will therefore remain only the Cusinberche to cross the field, the little road to the beach and common to small owners who border it is not awkward. Piprel's successor could have caused trouble, you never know.
...I am waiting for Mrs. Poivre, my neighbour of the Than Manor, probably because our children met at the beach...
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville, Tuesday, April 9, 1940(EXTRACTS)
....I laughed well when I read the story of shoes, it seems to me that it reminds me of my tendency to get rid of these instruments; asks Tantine who often speaks of the ability to get rid of my zapatos, and my God so long ago that I sent them to walk with a kick when I was comfortably seated in a good chair; I was no longer however old for such a fantasy, and that is what makes me remember that it is now the canonical age that comes, then that I always have my shoes... in their place....
....Here it goes, I have reviewed my PhD student who gradually maintains the best obtained, but with more gentleness than Lehoux who has all the qualities of energy that are suitable to treat the 43nd
I'm doing some stinging with strychnine, and it gives me a good kick that allows me to take some walks back into the park.
... Good news of Coutances where I took over the task with courage, the exams approaching. It is a strong question to repatriate in October the Parisian students; I would like it for your sisters who would taste a little less summary installation... Suzon will not be angry to find her comfortable installation and the younger one to find her furniture.
.... Philippe is still in Poissy, alone in the middle of a group of sergeants where his woolly stripes are staining. I guess and I hope that indicates that he won't keep them any longer, he deserved it by his quiet courage to all the work.
George lost his friend Marcel
(Hersent) We don't know why, but we have to come back to Tunisia soon. The brother-in-law is very much in tune with this rapprochement with the young boss.
... Jean C. is still imbuished from the authority of Director in Saumur, he wonders if it will be for a long time and if anyone Large body
He's not going to put him in subordination, but you know him enough, he'll accept the task whatever, that's what he's been writing this week, telling me he's going to Paris every week, he's found Challon and Rebuffet. His yard is the one that works best, without anything he tells me, the momentum was given by his predecessor, but the work is the only one done by a big company, all the others were given to small contractors who are paddling. There have been over 100 small factories under construction.
(d-bus loading shops must be dispersed into small units to limit the risk in case of explosion)
..... Nothing new here, I think I told you that I had started with Piprel the purchase of the servitude he has on the field "The Wood". I talked to my notary, by phone, he must come to examine the titles of property. I do not think that this purchase is going to be very expensive.
.... Our garden is getting more and more beautiful, it's ready to grow. Sowing is done and plantings made. I also put the separator squared in some of our flea hedges, it's not pretty, but it was useful. Leon cut the first with too much hardness, I watch those that remain to do, the result is better; and I hope that on your next trip you won't find anything to say again. I also planted 5 new apple trees in the vines and made the plantations of recent years to be pruned. You have to treat the trees and I see with pleasure that the great cousins are finally concerned in Argentina.... you will have beautiful woods to roast your sausages on a fire lit by Jean-Paul; tell him that the great cousins do as he does and organize snacks in the countryside by cooking (this is sometimes of the rest not quite successful).
....The naval news on the side of Sweden and Norway is burning; these neutrals have been below everything, they are now protesting that we refuse to let the bochian ships loaded with ore follow their territorial waters under the protection of the Norwegian torpedoes. A new sense of New York arrived this morning claims that the Bochians invaded Denmark in order to better defend themselves and the complete wing of Wilhemshafen would have sailed north west. We would expect a naval battle. We have a tight heart thinking about what can follow it; But unfortunately, we will have to get a hard hit.
Mrs Cordelle who had gone to Paris for about a fortnight decides to stay there for another week or two, in order to receive Jean. J-Am glad, she will be more useful there than at Coutances. I told you that Yvonne is recovering slowly, she has no milk. It's not all worth being young to be a mother.
Wednesday …. Since yesterday the news is rushing and the war is starting in Scandinavia... it is said that a great naval battle between the Franco-British and German fleets is taking place on the Norwegian coasts, the most diverse news has arrived, even by TSF. ..... I am, as you are surely my dear children, horribly distressed of the future. May God keep us all.
....I'm looking forward to hearing from him. (Phil) ; perhaps it will be directed to the North, provided it is not in Norway! I also think of the Blue Villa where so many worries must arise from this new direction of war. How does not the whole world rise against these invaders of which Germany uses and abuses. One wonders why one does not do as the neutrals in part for which we fight and who, as soon as Hitler raises the finger answer Amen. ...
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville, Tuesday, April 16, 1940(EXTRACTS)
Jean, I had your good letter on Friday 12th, it's almost a record, as you see it, and it's good, my children to read your good news, which is so concerned about the tragic events in the North.
....our corporal is still in Poissy, waiting from one moment to the next; he is proposed for the rank of sergeant, he writes to his mother who is as happy with it as he is.
...Good news from my Coutançais... I don't know if I told you that to continue their PMS exams they only have the 1era They will have to take a place from August 22nd to September 15th, the 2 elders have been registered, in case of immediate incorporation, which can happen even for Francis, they will immediately be cadet officers, Michel renounces, he is still young and moreover his preparation at Navale does not require this one. So here is the well-worn holiday, God make them no more! We do well, we always tend to do it!
And yet nature laughs in the sun, here not only the flowers of the wood that are open, but the fruit trees have their flowers widely open, too. I will almost every day install with a book and my knitting to which I hardly work, it is not immediate use, even for our soldiers already well equipped, I start to think about my little Viervillais who also are cold winter. I am therefore moving in the sun in the kitchen so well sheltered from the sea wind with its large walls. Emile Parmentier came on leave and who had the kind thought of coming to spend a moment with me did not come back from this abundant bloom, it is certain that the sea gardens are harshly tried, many trees, even sea pines were completely toasted this winter.
...our people with their flaws are always well in place, each doing his job without groaning. Leon and Jeanne, rushed to make house ( ??), without any help what it is usually in summer ( ??) and despite what I said because I wanted a garden of flowers – war – but the brave Leon would rather do without his soup than his geranium! We took the habit of restricting it, it was a matter of organization.
... This week we said a mass anniversary for our parish priest, I didn't attend, but I sent Martha and Jeanne there. The parish priest of St. Lawrence says a mass here every Sunday, often even vespers, and takes care of the little communicants. He has resettled a singer, the choir children are better kept, and less talkative; the church cleaner. For some time our parish priest had accumulated (to say so to receive the profits) the duties of singing, of bedeau, of bell ringer, not for the good of our church that needs a famous cleaning. Now it is the brave Colibeuf (the husband of Jeanne, our cook) who sounds the angelic with great regularity and strength, for here is our field guard; the one you knew: Maillet (the collaborator of Dupond while he was in the war) he refused to go ringing ngelus, our council supported by the s/prefet of Bayeux, immediately revoked "In time of war," he said, "we only have to obey." I think the guy was quite surprised, he now has to live for days, it changes his lazy hikes in our little poorly maintained paths. We really feel a ressault in France, there was need!
.... I'm sure that we have a little or no of our soldiers who have gone to support the English and Norwegians, but we are still holding the Maginot line from Belfort to Calais, ready to return to Belgium if necessary. I wonder what the Boches think and where they want to go.
......Always good weather, as I would like your two little ones to be there tomorrow to smack with the two cousins, and what beautiful bouquets it would be! I had fun the other day seeing the whole column of the little Parisians from Piprel coming on my request to walk in the woods, I made a distribution of lollipops, naturally, the teachers told them that they were taking them to the wood of Vincennes."But it's much more beautiful than the wood of Vincennes," said one of them, and the little hands full of flowers went back with their lips. ... They are here again for X time.
.... Jean C. is not in favour of returning his family this winter to Paris, it will be necessary if the schools prepare for it; the newspapers demand that we return to Paris services. That many families are separated and live at great cost, that is correct for some... and you must not believe that your sisters live cheaply in Coutances. Suzon has more than 20,000F of rent to pay in Paris.... I too did mine but that of Vierville costs nothing. I just had my large bedroom and bathroom refreshed by our usual painters before they left the army. It's all new. The turret needs to be completely redone, it will be for their return or some permission. (They come back the poor guys, because unfortunately there are people going; the son of a walking merchant, whom I have always known, remained there, he was the only son, he still has two daughters...
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville, Tuesday, 23 April 1940(EXTRACTS)
.... It seems that Yves took 2 kg in the 15 days of Easter here, and Simone 1 kg....... I had the joy of having to have lunch your two sisters and the 2 cadets last Thursday; (the boys that we heat on white do competitions every Thursday). Unfortunately we were gratified with a strong wind and d'april shows that did not allow the little ones to enjoy the park as I would have wanted. However, the girl left with a large bouquet of flowers of countryside whose wood is so well provided, it is a real treat of the eyes, and my small living room itself is all sunny.
....Good news of George,... He knew from Marshal who passed to the White that it had Mers el Kébir. Georges therefore wonders if he will go there.
....Jean C. is struggling with his factory and he's very happy with what he does there.
Our corporal is taking care of the new class with courage, but he regrets the arrival of the recovered ones that for public opinion were taken up among the reformees; from the first day one of them was having a crisis of depilepsis; most are no longer young and complain about various ills, and Phil says they are good to send back home where they can still do service in their sphere. It is an unnecessary expense and God knows if we are not saving our budget. I hope we will soon see our corporal for his quarterly permission. It will be a great pleasure to kiss his pink and fresh, well shaved and appetizing frizz. Poor Georges is very happy to be unable to enjoy the few days of his elder. Marcel Hersent is still in France, but he must not delay to join Bizerte.
I took advantage of the presence of the sisters with their car to go to Bayeux. As I told you our old house goes in small pieces, the fence of the field Leterrier from the tower is in a pitty state. I had thought I could make a repair of fortune, but I needed no less than 125m of grilling at 10F, and the iron poles were all to be resealed. To think well I went to Dosso; he came yesterday to see the work to be executed, either: cement posts with legs of strength and 7 I'm going to give up the wire that's been damaged by both horned beasts and kids making holes in the room, and here's a 2750F that we've rounded to 2500F. Obviously it's more expensive but here's a long time to repair.
It was also necessary to replace the gate (from the Pompon field) it is a lace; but iron is at a crazy price, so I must see Mabire the manufacturer of wooden barriers which would make one in oak; next year I will replace that of Leterrier who despite the layers of paint that I have made put there several times is also in bad condition. I think that I must well count 6 to 700F for each barrier. This is much enough for this year if I add the work of the mason and the covering.
.... Jeanne Colibeuf's nephew, a sailor of the Emile Bertin, ...qqpart in Europe, is seriously wounded on his left arm and treated. This leads me to tell you that I gave your address to J. Colibeuf's son-in-law, a brave seaman from Grandcamp, boarded as a quartermaster gunner on board the Maurou, a fort cargo ship which should be in Buenos Aires for several weeks, where he will bring and bring back goods. If necessary you would be kind to be useful to him, my Jean. He is a good boy who is under the usual boss on board a fishing boat. He married the eldest daughter of the Colibeuf.
....it's likely that he was too talkative in his letters. A woman of officer from Jean C. received one day a letter addressed to him by her husband, with in "Lt Untel is well".
.....I also received a visit from the teachers who sent you their respectful memories. We are actively preparing the rationing cards that we will be rewarded in June.
......Thursday morning, Pommier came to Suzon to propose a mortgage placement (she asked him) but I don't think they're doing the job, she would have preferred land, and it's worth it right now. 35000F I've been asking Pomier for all my papers that are interesting to us. He's long wanted to know the clauses; it can be used... after me. Piprel asked for 5000F for the price of his passage through the field. J-in and Pomier are also crazy.
....Seen our mayor a little... moved, he had been in Trevières for an assembly of mayors. It's a pity that this brave boy drink in this way. J-a-a told him to remove from his herbage "The Wood" the little flock of sheep and lambs whom he had introduced gently. (to be noted)
Their tooth is hard and rips out the grass more than it is, so are horses whose one per piece and still not always allowed.
.....I would like to hear from the Blue Villa and especially from Paulette, whose term must be near... What become of the Henrys, the Vauterins, the Rousseaus, where are the soldiers?
.....We celebrated the 20th anniversary of JP at their last stay here. 20 years! whereas for these little ones it would be the age to assert in life. They have the time and the means to do it the poor kids.
......What do you say about the enlargement of my 4 boys' photo with their faithful Muscadet. I really find it good! I still regret my good horse, I don't think I'll ever buy one. I'll only keep one of my cars that I can tie up with a farmer's horse. I'm very excited to sell the Pepita that's no use since your sisters have their car but take some place in the garage, it's still very sellable.
.......Oh, Jean, I don't have any money to put into the purchase of land at this time; with all the expenses I'm going to have to make for Vierville. I'll be able to make up for the two ends without more and again! But what the Gouvernture has to do with it is to know what we're going to have to expect from a big note!... but Long live France! We see how the war is going to last and for my part I can't keep hoping for the end of it this year. The TSF is very discreet, too in my opinion, because we don't know anything about what's happening. (The Norwegian War was still undecided before turning bad for the Allies) Hard wait for everyone.
......I hope my two kids work well, it takes to become good French. Yves follows his class of 5nd (wrongs, it's the 6th)But it would be surprising that because of his age he was in the middle of a four-year period.nd (5th). ……
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville, Wednesday, April 30, 1940(EXTRACTS)
.... ...I have good news of Coutances where boys work like foreclosures. ...
..... Jean C. must go to his ministry for the 2 days of Pentecost and then return to Paris, where he has an appointment on Tuesday morning, he is apparently very well, after what Mrs Cordelle has reported who spent 15 days in Paris and saw.
....the park is splendid, the little wood is now all green, and the paths are covered with flowers, it's now the turn of pink, white and pink jacinths, whose heavy bells combine with yellow arnicas; it's a fairytale of the eyes. I don't know if I told you that a beautiful dark red hare came to make gambades on the lawn, and he probably found a companion and we meet all three sometimes. I made to clog everything that could provide them with means of escape and perhaps we will one day see how small lambs will increase our garden of acclimatation. My garden is getting pretty little by little, but we are not at the moment to garnish the massifs, the geraniums that make up the largest of the troupe have had to put a blow, because I did not buy one seed of flowers, they will fill all the holes to be butchered. As I walked around I had the pleasure of seeing young trees: sycomores, ash, cherry trees, and chestnut trees. It is the young class that your little ones will see. 2 chestnut trees that I made plant on the side of the sea will replace those whose age becomes canonical. There is one of them, and the other, all vigorous as it still appears, will have some bad fate one day, I am afraid! I would plant in this corner a purple beech that would give a lively note, I planted one in the wood which I see writing you the red shade, it's pretty. My hedges of charcoal and troenes on the side of the commons were well damaged by these 2 years of strong frosts, and I had to make dark cuts that will require to be repaired this winter....
Good news of George who took advantage of his boss's absence (Marcel Hersent) To change the offices of "France Dragages" in place, Bertard with his keen sense of economy had set them up in the unsanitary background of a house on the street of Russia (see this here?) J-hope Marcel will not find it too sumptuous. They have just had dredging work.
Good news also of my corporal still in Poissy who was appointed by his captain to seek Sunday for the National Rescue, he told him because he was always suitable. J-Paul sent my Jean-Paul a stamp of the work, he would put it in a corner of his album, although it is not a True Stamp.
I hope you, my John, are comforted not to be here and to beat the Boches. This war is so complex that it does not consist solely of the military side. We had the wrong in the war of 1914 not to take care of the side, which can result from such a shock. The news that comes to us from Norway let us foresee serious difficulties and we are not leaving! ...... I complain to those who are busy in the top place with such a struggle....
...Operations do not seem to exaggerate in the East; our soldiers' permissions had been removed, they are restored, I think we will soon see our Corporal and probably also Georges Victoire; this one to whom I send parcels from time to time or a warrant, mécrire my faith very kindly and we feel full of brains, is he in the face right now?...
Mrs. Dupuis had to leave Agon again where she is settled with her children Gillette and the little ones, to go to care for Yvonne suffering enough from a phlebite on both legs. (Jean-François) But she is sorry about this inactivity, and the worst is that it can be prolonged for a long time. Her husband goes every month for 8 days to Angoulême giving physics lessons to the Central School that is installed there. We start to protest firmly against the movements of Schools and Administrations which involve countless costs for many people.
.....the weather is soft, and I decided to let the pan off of my little living room. As Simon writes with a lot of humor and after returning Yves (who protested) in a pair of short pants "It's time to decide and decree a beautiful day that winter is over"
.... I had yesterday the visit of Mrs. Monceti, the wife of a secretary of legation of Czechoslovakia., refugee here with her children, her husband is still in Paris at the Legation. She had for several months at her home fifteen Czech children and I helped them a little. Her husband... sent several very beautiful colored brochures from their country....
Nothing new in our village where the work of the fields is courageously done by women and young people. Our boys will have enough to take care of during the holidays. My hay looks great, even in the field of "Pompon" which is no longer trampled by the horse. I will sell the harvest once booted , it will help to close both ends. That it would seem easier if you were there, Jean. It must be said to my little ones that the currants are growing, and there will be many, and the small hands will be much less, however, it is a pity...
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