War letters from Maurice Rougier
from 10 April 1945 to July 1945
(he was Commander of the camp of prisoners repatriated from Germersheim)
5022
On 10 April 1945, Lt-Colonel Rougier was seconded to the 5th Office of the M.E. of the 1st Army, as Commander of the Germersheim Repatriated Prisoners' Camp (small town on the Rhine, near Spire).
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 10 April 1945addressed to Fannette in Bourg:
"...Now that your mail is coming to us, I have just changed my post and the postal sector. I am now making a welcome home and the liaison officers have been recovered for these functions. I am setting up one of these centres on the Rhine coast without much resources. I am losing much interest and pleasure in it and this is not the place I wanted to be. We are doing the work by requisitioning the civilians. The small town is at 3/4 demolished and the remaining premises are very ugly.
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 12 April 1945addressed to Claudet in Bourg:
....I struggled in the midst of the difficulties to set up my repatriation center. It's starting to turn around with the 200 boaches I've been doing for three days. I got two officers this morning and this afternoon a team of 3 liaison and rescue nurses, but I have no way. I will be forced to create a poppy with German staff and I fear that the excellent feasts, of which attached example, will be completed. I think I am opening on Monday. There is a flood such as we are overflowing. (De Lattre de Tassigny) He was supposed to come to me this afternoon but he postponed his visit until tomorrow morning, his visits are usually not desired because they end most of the time with a mouth.
I live here without news from inside or from the front, the war would be over that I wouldn't know....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 18 April 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
....I received your first letter yesterday from C. du 5. A few days ago I did not write to you, I have a lot of work with the organization of this centre, I have touched a little more staff now, 3 officers 5 officers and 3 liaison and rescue ladies...... everything must go without it with local Boches, 15 cooks and cooks, 4 nurses, 10 refectory waitresses and 10 women on duty. I think that electricity and water will be working again today because the town has been half demolished since we arrived, the water is very bad and many people have dysentery too let's drink only wine or beer.
I am considering getting vaccinated against typhus, it seems that it is prudent being called here to receive freed people of all kinds. I hope not to receive Russians or Poles because they are real savages, there is already a camp of 3000 where there are battles every day, then it would be a sacred chore.
I'm also a city weapons commander and it adds more work to my job. I'm fine, one of my officers has a camera and we'll photograph each other one of these days to send you a specimen."
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 21 April 1945addressed to Claudet in Bourg:
"... Still nothing from you. Nothing surprising with this improvised organization. I just received clients but as I feared, it was Russians, Italians and Poles who were given to me. 361 Russians, 129 Poles, 102 Italians, women and children mixed. It's a real mess especially with the unruly Russians. It's the tower of Babel. I hope I don't have any stories. We are now to make this work, I, 1 captain and 1 Lt. of the maquis 1 s/lt of 40 years Jewish, 3 officers and 2 men including my driver, also former maquis....
The popote works well thanks to Lt who owns a large hotel in Vichy that has been taken away for a long time by the requisition. I forgot to say that I also have 5 women liaison-reliefs who are not of great help and a doctor. My civilian staff includes 50 cooks, waitresses, nurses etc...
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 25 April 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...still no news of you... here it is not very pleasant with continuous troubles with my unruly Russian horde that spreads in the countryside to steal and loot. We are too little to face all this work...... I am the only career officer in there and quite poorly assisted I have to watch over everything....
The war still seems to be coming to an end, here are the Russians in Berlin and the junction is not far from happening....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 30 April 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...the mail seems to be working badly....It's that the army is so stretched and communications become difficult. Tomorrow, May 1st we organize the Russian national holiday that my residents asked to do with ceremonial early in the morning, meeting at 9 am with speeches from some tovaritches who must speak about an era that I have made them build, at noon improved lunch to which we are invited by the Russian Lt and his state of major, the afternoon Kermess in the court. You see this from here, you would laugh at seeing me in this trade.
The 3rd is the turn of the Poles to do their national party at 9am Mass, in the evening at 6am. I finished killing the bugs of my institution. Discipline does not work too badly, I am in trouble especially with the cabinets that overflow with ... every morning, we will make fleas....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 2 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...The last great Franco-Soviet demonstration in the center to celebrate their national holiday. The morning meeting in the courtyard around a stage decorated with French and Russian flags and portraits of Stalin and Gaulle, speech for 1 hour enamelled with crowds' hourrah, me and all my main state on the stage. At lunchtime at the refectory, we were invited by the Russians but we paid. The afternoon recreational session - dances, songs, sketch - at the home. Everything went well, no soulography....
I still have a lot of work to do and I'm about to get 200 more. We were pretending last night that the war was over, but it was an invention by the Russians to take me out of four extra bottles of water of life to celebrate the big day. Anyway, I don't think it's gonna be long enough and it'll be over by the end of the week....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 3 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...I give this letter to a comrade who leaves in Paris. He will go to Mother and carry him a package of American supplies. I only regret that this package cannot be destined for you. Since I am writing to you by this way, I can exactly locate myself, I am in Germersheim 15km south of Spire, far behind the front you see....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 6 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...It has been a cold duck here for eight days, I had to put my winter stuff back on. My center is in an old military prison that despite its comfort always makes prison. My window is high and only shows the sky and is provided with solid bars, it is vaulted and the walls are 1 m wide....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 8 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"... Finally, here is the war in Europe and the boaches completely defeated. The radio told us yesterday afternoon. We celebrated it last night by inviting some Russians, and today by a small take of arms where the meagre troops of my garrison marched. I had a loud speaker set up in the open to hear De Gaulle's speech at 3pm. Tonight we had a big pleasure.? .. ball in the open air (with the Russians and the Polish of course) . I never smoked so much cigars of my life because there are many factories in the area where we took stock. The Boches react well, they do not seem dismayed at their defeat but some almost happy that it is over. One of them I was talking to this morning, who works in the center, a former factory manager said to me "my homeland is lost" tears in my eyes. Many claim to be happy to be rid of Nazism, but we must beware! When I am still there, I receive a few customers every day, we are now over 800, the Russians are getting killed a little while, although they still loot some house and enjoy fishing with grenades in the surrounding pools. Today I have released all those I had put in prison. Many French prisoners and deported also arrive - but not at home - the deportees have suffered a lot and come back in lamentable states....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 11 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...We celebrated the German surrender by popular parties in our courtyard: dances, songs, cold buffet......A great unit has arrived here and I am decomposed of my duties as Commander of Armies....Nothing new for our successor here, besides what to do now that the war is over! ...
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 14 May 1945addressed to Fannette in Bourg:
" The office I am attached to is now 250 km away, that is, the letters do not come to me, I am well bored and often ask me how you are.
My center is now full, 700 Russian, 300 Polish, 100 Italian. It's organized, the Russians discipline themselves a little and make me less angry.... From time to time I invite the three Russian officers to dinner with their wives and these brands of respect attached them to me. For the feast of victory we danced until 2am with them in the courtyard with lampoons. .... And you do to your guides? Here there hired as a health driver an old cheftain who will organize us a Russian or Polish campfire.....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 17 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"......who do you vote for? It seems to me from the results heard on the radio that it was well on the left. ...My center works well and I have attached myself to it, my Russians civilize themselves. ... .... every morning men are even brought in row to the stairs. I now have a little more leisure and I take with my driver 1 lesson of driving car a day and with an old teacher notches 1 lesson of German also every day.... My home is finished, it is a success, we distribute there for tickets 2 1/2 beer and one cigar a day.....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 20 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"... A great feeling in the center for two days at the Russians, we talk about taking them out of here and bringing them back to a huge camp where they are already over 4000. They do not want to leave me finding the comfort of my small center preferable to that of this huge agglomeration. They claim to have heard on the Moscow radio that they must be allowed to leave if they want, but we have no confirmation of it. They will stay here temporarily until then.
.... Here we ... ? ... recreational sessions to distract our Russians and Poles. Yesterday evening Polish jumps. The Polish leader holds his world very well, every evening at 10:1/2 prayer and religious songs in front of an altar that they have mounted in their neighborhood, on Sunday everyone goes to mass in column by three. But they do not like each other with the Russians and we must always make separate demonstrations, but I act with enough diplomacy and assured me the sympathy of each other. Just a moment ago, in the garden opposite the center, there was a military music of a zouaves regiment, and chairs and chairs were placed.
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 23 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...disaster, the unity I had attached to changes in S.P., it is now 70482, so the letters will still vouch for me on all sides. One of my lieutenants received at once 32 letters! New moves here, they were talking about taking the Russians and Italians to regroup them elsewhere and give me exclusively Poles, but they have just changed their minds and they will take me off the Poles and Italians to specialize with the Russians I managed to tame. My camp has an excellent reputation and everyone wants to come there. I'm going to go up 25 km from here to put my 500 Poles who are demoralized to leave, the new work in perspective.
...This is worldly last night in S. (Sighs)
About 15 km from here. Ball organized by the Red Cross for the benefit of the repatriated prisoners and deported. I went there with my officers, 3 Russian officers and 3 young girls Russian. Well done, we danced until 2 am. The female element was represented by these ladies and ladies of the auxiliary female army. Tomorrow we come to the cinema by coach....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 25 May 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...Today, I conducted a large police operation as Commander of the Army: arresting all the Nazi leaders (15) of the city. Operation made at 7am as they were doing in our house. People were caught at the jump of the bed...
pm letter of 27 May 1945
pm Letter of 29 May 1945
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 1 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...and yes, as you say, my center is a small town of 1500 inhabitants with men, women and children (38 under 6 years for which a nursery works). My Poles will leave in a small camp that I have just built 25 km away to separate them from the Russians....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 6 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"... I took back a few pounds....I was 69 kg, I don't need to increase or I'll be back to the big man of old. My Poles left me three days ago, great reception the day before they left, so I only have 1150 Russians left...... men speaking little German and no one speaking French at their home is through two deported girls who speak German. It's quite complicated because to tell my Russian detachment leader what I want to be translated first into German by a German-French interpreter to one of my two Russians who translates into Russian to the officer. One of these interpreters was deported from Leningrad at 16 years old (??) separated from her father her mother and sister whom she has never heard since, she worked in Germany and also for 2 1/2 years in Cherbourg at fortifications. And this is the situation of most of my people... his father was supposed to be something like a water and forest curator and his mother a teacher in a high school.
pm letters of 7 and 11 June 1945Maurice Rougier was in Constance by car to see De Lattre, a visit without results.
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 15 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...... a lot of work: a convoy of 1200 Russians I have to take to Chemnitz, 300 from my home and 900 from a nearby camp. They had to leave today but the trucks were missing at the last moment and the departure is postponed to a few days. The journey will last two days in trucks without knowing where we will stop on the way and enough cold food for the duration of the journey. In Chemnitz the US-Russian authorities take them into account and first bring them to Dresden. If the repatriation continues at this rate I think that in 1 month my camp will be empty.
... my doctor went to Paris again, he was at the Imbergères at 9:1/2 a.m. and Mother was already lying down. He had brought with him a Russian and a Russian to show them Paris that came back full of admiration. I thought I would go to Paris 2 days on June 18 but I had to give up the project because of my trip to Chemnitz....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 18 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"......I almost went to Paris for today and here's my adventure, Saturday the idea comes, pushed by two officers from my home, to go there in delegation with them and some Russians. So we leave in 2 cars at 5 am thinking of arriving in Paris on Sunday for noon. But we were too busy in my Peugeot 402, my driver Marcel, me, 2 Russians and the road food in quantity because we didn't know how to eat in Paris (where I thought I would go down with my guests) and after 4 successive punctures and without a spare wheel I had to turn back to Kaiserslautern and stay here after a journey all night. The other car that preceded me with the doctor is I think it was right. My Russians, more than I, were of course sorry to be able to continue the road to see Paris before returning to Mother Patria.
My phenomena start to leave, yesterday 150, today as much, they are brought in truck in American zone 100km from here, from where they are boarded by railway. Sensational departures with red flags on trucks, portraits of Stalin, songs, kisses etc..
....that of worldliness, almost too much, especially with the Russians it is necessary to ingurgitate glass of white wine with one trait and I am not very strong on it...
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 24 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...My Russians are causing me trouble at the moment, 150 who had left yesterday in the American zone to board were refused upon arrival and were sent back to me after 400km of road in trucks. Some bad elements have slipped into new arrivals and they drink a lot. Before yesterday they fought with my French post, a sentry (??) fired in the air and it was the start of a fight where an indigenous trailleur had the eye with black butter. .... we are waiting for D.'s visit. (De Lattre de Tassigny)
At the end of the week, we didn't need that much preparation!...
.... Yvette's father hasn't returned yet if he's in the Russian zone because they don't want to let our prisoners in, why mystery!
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 27 June 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...My Russians have been a little calmed down the other day. I have forbidden the boaches to sell them wine that they do not know how to use in moderation. But these departures are not without annoyance. We thought we had trucks to take 400 to Leipzig on Friday but now it's back to Sunday. My camp starts to swell again from all those who are still being picked up in the countryside and I'm back at 1200. (De Lattre de Tassigny)
I intend to have him received by some young Russian girls who will offer him flowers and then give him a small exhibition of dances and songs with champagne cut.
I hope to come as you propose from July 10th to 20th, if possible by car with one of my officers who will push to Vichy where he must go on leave, or with my car, my driver then going back to Vittel on leave. I look forward to seeing you again....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 1 July 1945addressed to Claudet in Bourg:
"...This is a big news since my last letter: 700 Russians left yesterday on the railway to Leipzig, probably tomorrow as much and I will have no one but a few isolated - it seems quite numerous - still widespread in nature and that we will recover. (De Lattre de Tassigny) is given up for a few days and I'm afraid if I don't have any Russians he won't come to see me....
Extract from the written letter from Germersheim on 3 July 1945addressed to Granie in Bourg:
"...the new start this morning of 250 that leaves my center almost empty. But what vandals, despite all my recommendations, everything is half broken, the paillases torn, an indescribable filth. There are only a dozen left here, officers and executives who are looking for the campaign to bring in the recalcitrants.
Nothing new about D's visit. (De Lattre de Tassigny) Who's supposed to march tomorrow in Berlin is said. I'm thinking of leaving on leave, maybe before the 10th...
Today's convoy went to Prague in trucks, 2d 1/2 of journey.....
Maurice Rougier received a Testimony of the Russian commander during the closing of the Russian Refigious Camp (in Russian and translated).
For your record, list of the French staff of the Centre.
Maurice Rougier was allowed to take up his duties in Bourg from 10 to 20 July 1945. Upon his return, he took up his duties with the French Military Government in Germany.
