September 1939 to September 1944
501
Following the memories of Claude:
"In Sept. 39, when the declaration of war was made, it was decided that the furniture would be in storage (in Dijon) And that, we children, would go "refugee" with Mom at Aunt Cecile who lived in Cannon
(Lot-et-Garonne) - Uncle Marcel was an engineer for a company that was laying poles of electric lines - it was a world of women - since my maternal grandmother was also there - Tandrea mobilized as a nurse, and the atmosphere was often full of nervousness...After the strange war (between May 10 and June 25, 40) my father returned desperate by this disaster where the soldiers fled and deserted in mass".
Memories of Marguerite MAILLET, Claude's grandmother:
" late August 1939 -
Just back from Dampierre where we spent the family holidays: Etienne and her children, Suzanne and Maurice, Fanny and Claude, all very cheerfully, but the storm went up and Maurice went to join his regiment.
The war threatens and despite this Marcel arrives at Seals with his wife and little Colette. He does not believe it, of course. But I hear echoes from TSF and in the church square in particular, a speech by DALADIER which leaves little hope.
It's decided that I'm going with them to CannonAndree is called a nurse and I don't feel the courage to live alone here in a moment like this.
We are on a very tiring journey, crowded train and left at 9 a.m. in Paris, we are not in the Villeneuve
than the next night around 7 a.m. The CERENOZs offer us dinner, I can't...
I'm worried, I'm worried. Marcel leaves after a few days and here we are, Cécile and I, for a long time.
The good little Colette is the sun's ray, her child's charm consoles me many times.
I'm thinking of Andrée, who was lost alone in a hospital. SuzanneOnly one comes to meet us with his two daughters. What a moving moment this arrival. She put her furniture in storage and gave leave of absence from her apartment, her husband exposed...
Time passes, however: the three little girls go to the village school and we take care of the house, kitchen, knitting, letters to the absent ones.
I've learned that my house (Dampierre's voice) is occupied by officers and a poppie, but it is indifference, there are so many other matters of grief."
As soon as the mobilisation took place, the Commander of the Maurice Rougier Infantry Company, patented by the State Major, was appointed Head of the 2nd Bureau of the 10th Army Corps, (which he kept until 10/7/40)
This new Corps was in formation in Rennes. Maurice was sent to Rennes from 4 to 14 Sept 39, pius with his state-Major, somewhere in the South of Sedan from 16 Sept 39 to 14 May 40, on the Aisne River (Rethel) on 15/19 May 40, on the Somme (South Amiens) from 20 May to 8 June 40, in Beaumont s/Oise on 9 and 10 June, in Poissy s/Seine
June 11 and 12, between Seine and Loire from June 12 to 17, on the Loire on June 18 and 19 (TowersOn the 20th of June, Creuse
22 June, in the East of the Charente, in Angoulème on 23 and 24 June.
The letters of Maurice Rougier to Grannie during their separation from 1939-40, allow him to follow throughout this period:
1 - letters of late August 39 to 14 Sept 39
When the war threatened, at the end of August 1914, Granie was on vacation with her daughters in the countryside, in the village of Reulle-Vergy
20 km south of Dijon. On his side Grand-Father was Dijon to the mobilisation of 2 September which sent him to Rennes, where he was assigned as head of the 2nd Bureau (intelligence and counter-intelligence) of the 10th Corps In the process of being established to take charge of the mobilisations, Grand Father dated his letters from Dijon and then Rennes until 14 September:
letter from MR to Dijon to SR to Reulle (a small town south of Dijon, a temporary holiday, to avoid the big city that could be bombed if the war began abruptly); Hitler's letter refers to his demands and the German-Soviet pact.
Letter of 30/8/39, MR to Dijon to SR to Reulle
letter of 2/9/39, MR to Dijon to SR to Reulle, the mobilization is launched and the plan sends Cdt Rougier to Rennes, it plans to leave on 3 to arrive on 4
Letter of 3/9/39, MR to Dijon to SR to Reulle, MR is about to leave in Rennes
Letter of 4/9/39, MR to Rennes (mobilization, MR joins the 10th CA, its assignment provided for in the Mobilization Plan) to SR in Reulle.
letter of 7/9/39, MR to Rennes to SR to ReulleMR is considering various options for his family in the coming school year, outside Dijon.
Postcard to Fanny and Claude, 10/9/39, Rennes
letter of 14/9/39, MR to Rennes to SR to Reulle, with comments on the Polish resistance
During the "wartime" 39-40, near Sedan
Commander Rougier, 1940
Maurice Rougier on the left?
2 - letters from 17 September 39 to the end of November 39 and
letters from 17 Dec. 39 to 3 April 40
On September 17 Grand-Father arrived in Lorraine with the EM of the 10th CAUntil October 12, the 10th CA was assigned to the reserve of the 2nd Army, and the PC was a little behind Dun on Meuse, it seems.
Letter of 17/9/39, MR in the Sedan sector, to SR in Reulle
letter from 20/9/39, Postcard to Grannie, showing the city of Dun on Meuse, probably close to Grand Father's stay, between 17 September and 12 October.
letter from 6/10/39, MR to SR
letter from 8/10/39, MR to SR
From 12 October, the 10th CA is in charge of defending the Meuse and the Chers, basically from Sedan included in Carignan. The PC, where is located the Comd Rougier, is The Berlier
(20km south of Sedan). This PC was used by Maurice Rougier until 14 May 1940.
letter from 25/10/39, MR to SR
letter from 27/10/39, MR to SR
letter from 3/11/39, MR to SR
letter from 10/11/39, MR to SR
Menu of 11 Nov 39
Music and lyrics from "Y'a du brom"
letter from 12/11/39, MR to SR
letter from Sunday menu 26/11/39
letter from 13/11/39, MR to SR
letter from 24/11/39, MR to SR
letter from 17/12/39, MR to SR
letter from 25/12/39, MR to SR
letter from 16/1/40, MR to SR
letter from 28/1/40, MR to SR
letter from 4/2/40, letters MR to Fanny and Claude
letter from 13/2/40, MR to SR
letter from 21/2/40, MR to SR
letter from 4/3/40, MR to SR
letter from 8/3/40, MR to SR
letter from 13/3/40, MR to SR
letter from 3/4/40, MR to SR
3 - From April 10 Germans invaded NorwayThe letters showed the hopes of the Allies at the beginning and the gradual disillusionment in the final success of the Germans.
letter from 15/4/40, MR to SR
letter from 18/4/40, MR to SR
letter from 29/4/40, MR to SR
letter from 1/5/40, MR to SR
Concert program for the Army3 May 1940
letter from 4/5, MR to SR
letter from 5/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 8/5/40, MR to SR
4 - Even before all allied troops were re-boarded to Norway, the Germans attacked on 10 May
by BelgiumThe letters gradually indicated the end of the French hopes of victory. Cdr Rougier was deeply affected by the images of a failure and panic of several units of the 10th CA on 12 and 13 May 1940, completely demoralized by the attacks of bombers in the bay, then of tanks.
A big historical documentThe 10th Corps of the Army Staff reports in detail on the campaign in France, which was set up between 25 June and 10 July 1940 and signed by General Grandsard, Cdr. this document, which includes numerous maps and sketches, could be used by those interested in the details of this campaign and to understand certain aspects of it. Given its volume, it cannot be attached to this file.
letter from
10/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 11/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 12/5/40, MR to SR
From 14 May what remains of the 10th CA was raised and took position on the Aisne side of Rethel with new troops. The new PC was Machault (20 km) at the Se de Rethel. He had a few days of calm, as the Germans were heading west and the Channel instead of attacking south.
letter from 15/5/40, Military Post Card MR to SR
letter from 17/5/40, MR to SR
5 - On 19 May, the 10th CA was transferred to the south of Amiens The new PC was installed in the area of the Somme, which is now the only one to be built. Beautiful
In the evening, the journey was made by car, passing through Meaux and Creil. The troops, on the other hand, did not follow and it was new units already in the area that formed the bulk of the GC. The PC has been transferred to Conty (20 km at the SSO in Amiens) on May 23, in a felt factory that Cdt Rougier speaks of in his letters, including letters to his daughters on June 4.
letter from 23/5/40, MR to SRletter from 25/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 27/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 28/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 30/5/40, MR to SR
letter from 2/6/40, MR to SR
letter from 4/6/40, MR to his daughters
6 - On 5 June the Germanswhich had been completed since the day before the reduction of Dunkirk's pocket, attacked the Somme west of Amiens and went down to Rouen. The 10th C.A. was pushed and had to retreat in rearguard combat In the direction of Beaumont sur Oise (9 June) Poissy on the Seine
(13 June), (pm. Paris was occupied on 14 June), on the Loire (17 June), then successively on the Cher, Indre, Creuse, andAngoulême
(24 June). The armistice came into effect on 25 June while Cdt Rougier was still with the EM of the 10thCA, EM about without his troops reduced to the son of fighting and retreats. Maurice Rougier was thus by chance not far from Cancon where his family had stayed, and on 25 June at the end of the day, Maurice Rougier came to spend 2 hours in Cancon to surprise all.
The letters from this period are as follows:
letter from 7/6/40, MR to SR the PC has been folded to
Villers-Vicomte 30km south of Amiens on June 6 and June 8 Bonvillers, where he almost got caught by a raid of firefighters, they escaped at the last moment by retreating to Fay-Saint-Quentin.
letter from 9/6/40, MR to SR After the breakup of the Somme front, the PC was folded Montmorency
north of Paris, with the CA in charge of blocking the Oise line north of Paris. On 11 June the PC was transferred to Scoon, and SevenThe new defence line being the Seine near Poissy. Saint-Hubertand on 13 June Maintenance.
letter from 13/6/40, MR to SR The French authorities have not been able to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Community's financial resources are fully recovered. Chateaudun on the night of June 14-15.
letter from 15/6/40, MR to SR
letter from 17/6/40, MR to SROn that day, the PC was transferred to the south of the Loire Stuffed on Cherand on 19 June Loches (Chanceaux)on 20 June Barrouon the evening of 21 June
Vouneuilon the night of 22 to 23 June Biosauc. It was then south of Angoulème. On June 23 the PC was at the castle of Breuil near Dignacand the afternoon of 24 June Issigeac.
But the most extraordinary is that Issigeac was 50 km north of Villeneuve-sur-Lot and only 30 km north of Cancon where Granie and her children were!!!
On 25th at 0030 hours the Ceasefire was observed, the PC remained in Issigeac, which allowed Maurice Rougier to spend 2 hours in Cancon with his family on the evening of 25th June.
letter from 24/6/40, MR to SR on the 25th, the PC was transferred to Lauzun25km to the Cancon NO. It seems that the 10th CA PC remained there until its dissolution on July 10.
The absence of letters between June 25 and the end of August shows that Maurice Rougier has resumed at least sporadic contacts with Cancon in July 40.
the continuation of the memories of Marguerite Maillet: (see
souvenirs of the summer of 1940 in Cancon with the return of Maurice Rougier and Marcel Maillet, written by Marguerite Maillet (June to September 1940)"On Monday, June 17, 1940, we had lunch in the large Cancon hall, with 21 people, since Cécile's family had arrived on the previous Saturday, 14 people, and André de Lille We had fallen from the sky on Sundays - when we hear the TSF at our neighbors - Suzanne and Ray. MALET will listen and we stay in our places. But they return the upset figure, telling us that Marshal Pétain asks for armistice?. We did not believe it so unexpected. We were told so many times that the victory was ours!.
In the evening, unfortunately, we had confirmation of this terrible news and the anguish began. The days followed without news of ours, the posts and trains being stopped, and the German advance continued. We had La Petite Gironde as a newspaper and the TSF broadcasts several times a day.
What a sadness and an irritating expectation with all the false noises that are circulating, it rains, it rains on the horizon and nothing comforting, for one expects the worst.
The refugees continue and the army is added to it. What a jerk in this poor Cancon, so quiet...
25 June - It is announced that the conditions of peace will be known in 48 hours - always wait - But at the post office, I have two cards of Andrée, one of which last of 20 June, and it is Casters
- so she's saved - and she says she's healthy, and at noon, Maurice comes to us as a surprise. He's close to here and spends 2 hours with us!. He's fine, but he's unhappy about this failure... Sedan, The Oise, Amiens and the Loire, and we didn't know...
Marcel's news arrives, he has gone over 600 km. in retreat, - and a few days later he arrives as a surprise, very bruni and weightless. So here they are all saved and I thank the Good Lord, but our dear France! What a profound sadness and how to get up from it."
Prior to his reassignment, Maurice Rougier received the 30/6/40
a Testimony of Satisfaction General Cdr.
The 10/7/40 it was removed from the 10th CA frames, and assigned to Foix, Ariège Department. He seems to have been living in Pamiers for a while, not far from Foix.
a map of Granie to her daughters, she was in Toulouse with Grandpa around July 30, 1940
"Sunday, dear big girls, I'm leaving earlier at 5 am, right now I'm with Dad along the canal, we've seen everyone, memo, aunt Lucia, Paulette and even Louis, they're fine, I think they haven't forgotten you and send you a little package, what a nice weather, probably you've gone for a walk with Aunt Cecile, we all kiss you four - Mom
Big kisses - Dad
Here's a map sent by Grandpa to Granie, dated July 31, 1940
"Wednesday, 31 July
Here's a view of this beautiful country.
(Freddy Rougier, father of Madette, and Pierre and Jacques Rougier) I was dead, the obsessives took place yesterday, unfortunately I couldn't go.
Nothing new here, always a lot of work in a hurry with all these demobilizables having bad minds and that can't be fired.
I was asked yesterday if I wanted to be a Sub-Préfet, I said no, maybe I was wrong.
All three kisses "
A letter from Grand Father to Granie, from Pamiers, August 5, 40
"Tuesday, August 5
(1940, de Pamiers)
My darling
I received with great happiness your letter from Saturday and the little note from my Claudet.
I was called the day before yesterday to ask if I wanted to go as assistant colonel at the Régiment de Haute-Garonne and Ariège in Toulouse, knowing your taste for the big city and not being on the other hand excited by this job I answered no, so I'm still here to do and remake states, we are only 3 to administer and manage 9,000 men, it's really little!
I saw Col Lafontaine today (??) who didn't tell me about an assignment, I think I'll end up here until the liquidation of the new demobilization and organization because the transfer to the 7th Region had to be stifled at the 17th Region in Toulouse.
The Jacques (??) I'm sure you didn't have to. ??? ??? Because the boaches are not sloping at the line, I'm still wondering if their pellin is in the closed zone. (North and NE of France). I heard from the Colonial Corps where Gauvin and the 1st MIC (??) where was the son Marie (??) , the CC EM where Gauvin was taken prisoner towards the 22nd century. (May) with the honors of the war in the south of Montmédy, as to the first MIC it was decimated or made prisoner at ?? Heroy, 90% chance that Gauvin would be a prisoner, 50% chance that son Marie (??) would be killed or prisoner. If really there are 2 million prisoners, it is a vein not to be in it. I kiss you with all my tenderness all three
Your Mauritius
He's still storming today. It's 10:00, I'm going to bed.
I managed to stay at the urinary clinic because I was charged for my room 10f a day. I eat at the hotel in France 12F all inclusive meal.
I've been getting my pay, you need money, it's as hot as in Morocco, we're asking for officers for North Africa, what do you say?
And did Mother leave? And Andrée, what are her plans?
My headache is better, but I've been a little dumber than I've ever been."
On 23/7/40, he was assigned to the 7th Military Division, and then he left for Bourg-en-Bresse where on 9/8/40 he was appointed head of the Second desk of the Military Division.
He then prepared the installation of his family in Bourg en-Bresse2 rue de la République (furnished at Mrs Sala's) And the sixth year of Fanny and Claude High School.
The letters from Maurice Rougier (then Bourges) to Suzanne (Cancon) on 25/8/40 and 27/8/40 show the Rougier's concerns at the time of Suzanne, Fanny and Claude Rougier's departure for Bourg in early September 1940.
Following the memories of Marguerite Maillet:
September - We left Cancon, Suzanne, the girls and I to Valencia
- But what a journey!
TarasconWe find a hotel where we rest - and we arrive in Valencia in the afternoon. How emotional to see the children and the parents again! . We will spend a month with them, because we don't know when we will see each other again. The demarcation line is above Lyon and we only pass with complicated visas. The letters do not pass and I can't warn my sister who is in Seals, nor receive anything from her.
October 40 - We are enjoying a return of refugees who will take us back to Paris for free - but what a journey! Left at 8 am from Etienne, the departure takes place only at 11 am; Chalon-sur-Saône At night, and we are kept waiting until the next day. By a huge detour, Troyes and the suite, we arrive at the East station at 9 o'clock; I can't do it anymore! Andree fortunately finds us a room, which we share with a lady who has travelled with us, and the next day we finally arrive at Seals!. What an emotion we believed our busy house, but the good ladies Philippeau preserved us by opening our windows and here we are!. The provisions are rare, we don't find much... I don't know how we lived that winter. After about a dozen, we can use the cards where we barely put a few words.""
Following the memories of Claude:
"It was then a strange army, known as armistice. It was in a free zone - a demarcation line indicated the German advance and divided France in the east-west direction. Bourg-en-Bresse. We stayed there from 1940 to 1945 (46 in reality)."
15/11/40, it was "Off-Framework" at the EM 7th Military Division in Bourg en Bresse, Head of the 2nd Bureau25/6/42, it was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel,
continued in his duties and classified in seven 42 at the Special EM of the Infantry, Regional Office of Bourg.
Following the memories of Claude:
"When the Americans landed in North Africa (7-11-42), the Armistice Army was made prisoner ready to leave on prepared trains ( 11-11-42 ) . After 4 days of negotiations, the Marshal Pétain obtained their release. It was then more than ever a strange army whose officers were relegated to secondary roles (social service etc.)". 11/11/42, German occupation of the Free Zone. Maurice Rougier was taken prisoner for a few days All of them seem to have been released quite quickly by the authorities of Vichy and Marshal Pétain.
"November 12 - Dear ladies, we are well, the children honor their mother's kitchen And fattening Claude took 1 kg, fanny more but didn't weigh himself. The last radio of Mauritius was improving, hope that he won't be forced to go to the mountain, yesterday he was seen Mr. Cervelin. The refuelling is not painful because we keep the promises, we have 2 stères of wood and peat, but the stove only heats up the kitchen.
Suzanne kisses
New open map of Granie, 26 Dec 42:
"December 26th. Dear ladies, did you receive my package sent on the 21st and to arrive on the 22nd? I regretted having mentioned the cigarettes. I had 60kg of t. stolen by the train.
You had a good Christmas despite the sadness of times. Here fog without interruption, we made a Christmas tree, we had the visit of Marguerite, she was in a state of alert! since Etienne sent us a superb mandate from you, which we thank you all very much. Fanny remains at home with a cold-bronchite and Claude has a bulb at the foot. I forgot to attach to my package the p. de t., but there was no more to take, we distributed the winter rations, are you born for vegetables? compared to last year, here it hasn't frozen, or very little. Kisses, Mr.
Happy New Year and good health for all ladies, misery or relief?
The army had disappeared at least legally, and its cadres had been re-established in various forms.
28/11/42, it was maintained in the Regional Commissariat of the Bourg-en-Bresse War
28/2/43, it was demobilized, on leave
for 3 months until 31/5/43,
then put on Armistice leave 1/6/43 (non-availability)
9/4/43, he was contracted and appointed
Head of the Social Service of the Army for the Bourg-en-Bresse Region
(Departments covered: Ain, Jura, Saône-et-Loire). See Conference on the role of the Social Service of the Army by Colonel Rougier
From 2 September 43, he was assigned to the social service of the 14th Region in Lyonuntil February 22, 45, but his residence remained in Bourg.
15/11/43, put in "non-availability"
Letter from Jean DAVID, former commandant Rougier, prisoner in Germany, December 43
"27 December 43
My dear Colonel,
I just received a letter from my parents, to which I was very happy to hear from you and to know you were healthy. You were very kind to write to my parents. I often thought of you, I wondered what you had become with all this disaster. I sent you a card to Cancon, she didn't have to find you. At the time of Sedan's invasion, I was on leave, given the bombing of Fisms I couldn't reach. I was sent to Le Mans, then to Cosnes' depot, to form the 274th RI in Rivesaltes, we went up to the Eure, folded into Mayenne, taken prisoner on June 19. I stayed 4 months in Laval, where I started to know our opponents. Arriving in Germany, I worked in a lime factory in Bavaria, as I had enough, I took the key to the fields, without having the chance of arriving, because the General's departure (probably the leak of General Giraud) I did Rawa-Ruska, 18 months from Poland, you need not give details, you must know, and this is where I realized that the men were capable?... I returned to Germany on 8 December and worked in a faience factory, I do what a French prisoner has to do, often reproaches, but I am used to it. Despite all this the ideas are the same, the morale is good enough. I have learned to know the life. Alas where is the life of Dijon. My letter is not long enough. How are your little girls and madames, they must be great now. My congratulations on your rank as Colonel. Receive my dear Colonel and your dear lady and your children my affectionate greetings and best memories. Best wishes for 44. Sad Christmas.
Letter from Jean DAVID, prisoner in Germany, 16 July 44
I have the honour to share with you my news that is still in good health and that you are in good health. I continue to travel and am still changed from Stalag. I work in a career in K° (Kommando) I am not in the process of being a member of the board, but I am not in the process of being a member of the board. I am here to think about the future and do not remain inactive, since I already have several parents who are employed in the railways, I am after studying with a comrade who is in the control department. Having been at your service, please be kind enough to issue me a certificate to join my request that I will return, and if it is possible to send him to my parents, to whom I will be grateful enough. Please accept my dear Colonel and your children the expression of my sincere greetings and fondest memories.
Thank you in advance, J. David.
If you forget, here's my parents' address.
Mr. and Mrs. David, at the Dianerie by Nouic (High-Vienna)
For the rest of Maurice Rougier's history, from late 44 to his death in 1974, see page 502