The Rougier in Bourg-en-Bresse in 1940-44
532
After the Armistice of June 1940, (see chapter 501, history of Maurice Rougier From 1940 to 1944) Commander Rougier, having escaped the captivity, had found himself in an unoccupied area in Pamiers (Ariège). After having taken care of the demobilization of the troops, he was assigned in the autumn of 1940 to the 7th Military Division in Bourg en Bresse, in an army which was awaiting a possible resumption of the fighting or a peace treaty.
Granie was able to join him in Bourg with his daughters who were at the public high school in Bourg from October 1940 until July 1946.
The Rougier first settled in a furnished apartment owned by Mrs Sala, who had a daughter Ginette.
Address: "2 rue de la République, chez Madame Sala".
Later, around 1942, they were able to rent an apartment and bring their furniture to Dijon in a storage room.
Memories of Claude:
"... and after the strange war, it was then a strange army, called armistice. It was in a free zone - a line of demarcation indicated the German advance and divided France in the east-west direction. Bourg-en-Bresse
(Lieutenant-Colonel 1942). We stayed there from 1940 to 1945.
....."
Bourg 1941, Grannie, Fanny and Claude
Grand Father and his daughters, Bourg 1941
Map of the Marshal, Christmas 1940, addressed to Claude Rougier, who had to send a drawing made in class at the Marshal
(details)
A great portrait of the Marshal, as there were everywhere in this troubled time.
Extract from the letter from Paris by its sponsor Francis Scola to Claude (in Cancon) on 16 January 40, it advises for frostbite:
"...the cold that is now everywhere and even in Paris where the snow falls for the second time since the beginning of winter. It will take to heal your handcuffs alternately in cold water and hot water several times a day and to brush them with glycerin before you go to bed, even if you put on old gloves so as not to dirty the linen. It is a way that often succeeds, and if it was ineffective, you can try the one that a pharmacist from Bagneres told me and which consists of soaking hands several times a day in a decoction of "celery"
- (here is a prescription that should not be much of a good apothecary) bobosBut they are no less painful and would be even more difficult to heal if the frosts were to break....
"Toulouse 6 Nov 40
My dear Maurice,
Received your letter from the first current that found me recluse in my room for the flu caused by the great colds and naturally not at all heated.
Lucie is lucky to have found such a good deal with her owner, she is like home, this lady being not at all gnarling and giving them the enjoyment of many rooms. It is very regrettable that there was no room for me. In this case she no longer seeks a furnished apartment for the three of us and finds it natural that I pay a great price for the family pension. There is naturally General Gouraud with his sister and sister-in-law.
As for Fanny I complain of being during the cold at St Pierre de Chartreuse (see next letter) I don't want to worry about what happens quite often in some children who...??... a little later on. I never measured you or weighed you, it wasn't the use of this time and everyone came.
We are delighted to see Louis every day during his leave, he looks good and is cheerful. His parents must be sorry to be here no longer to see him.
As for the information you have me.. ..he says it does not concern his promotion and he must return to St. Cyr.
Jacqueline has changed her office, she is still at the Prefecture. Her office was very lucky to receive the visit of Marshal Pétain. Great cheers throughout the city with very simple reception.
??..a Mass was said for your poor father's birthday, already 30 years old. We added our prayers for poor Fredy, whom I cannot resolve to think he is no longer. I just wrote to Madeleine and her children, who must not be forgotten in their great sorrow.
All here join me in kissing you and hoping you can settle down soon
P Rougier "
"Wednesday, November 20 (1940)
My dear Fanny.
I hope you're doing great in Saint Peter of Chartreuse.
I'm doing great.
I work very well in high school. I am very happy because I did the English composition is that I am 7th out of 45. We have also made the compositions of history, drawing and gymnastics that I have done very well. We have already changed 3 times as a professor of history and geography, the one we have now is very funny and I'm only laughing because when she causes her neck like a duck. We are in the chaldé and, in geography, in the maps. In Latin I don't get too bad, if you're interested in it I'm in the 3rd decline. In catechism we are learning the Eucharist.
Monday mom was behind Mrs Sala's bike taking a big walk.
While Mom was with you, Mrs. Sala took me to a farm and I ate pancakes, it's a shame because she wasn't sweet that afternoon. I was 36 km away, I had a lot of fun, when we came back it was all dark.
Ginette (Ms. Sala's daughter) who has art for hairdressing my curl with an iron, she made me plugs with a little chignon, it suits me very well, I let grow my hair. Ginette and Mrs. Sala taught me to waltz and now I know quite well.
At Christmas I'll go see you, it'll be very fun, because you probably will learn to ski and so will I.
Ginette is very nice, we both have fun.
The French mistress told us that at the end of the year we would do poetry, I'm sure you will be first. Wednesday we compose in Latin, I am very afraid.
It's 9:1/2 a.m. I'm going to bed too, I've been able to write you a very long letter because Mrs Sala is in the cinema. I'm glad you have a lot of fun with your girlfriends. I'll write every Thursday because I have a lot of work and even work after dinner.
Your sister, Claude.
Letter from Good Mother of Seals to her son Marcel, January
My dear Marcel
I was glad to have your letter, and also Suzanne's one you're communicating to me, but she doesn't write a lot, but I got several very nice Fanny cards.
So we're (she's with Tandree) The most missing thing is the butcher's and fat, for which we were waiting for hours, but we just started a number system that will, I think, give good results. Vegetables were missing during the cold, and potatoes have not yet returned. You think if I regret the 50 kg of Sarry that were requisitioned at the Sceaux station!.
I thank you again for the 2 packages that come to us, and Etienne of hers so well composed. But don't deprive yourself for us, you must be equally rationed. I buy everything I find and one thing replaces the other. Lady we don't do feasts, we even discovered rutabagas!...
We had a serious cold for 3 weeks, and as we clean coal, we only had salamander, the caloriferous being the exception. But we are not in the cold, even with the wet weather (o how long!) that currently lasts.
I asked the station to send you back your boots, but we're not going to ship a package. (a package between the two zones, this should not be possible), You buy what you need, we won't find any longer, and you'll find your stuff here.
The fabrics are out of price - 300f per meter to have wool, and the simple canvas of Vichy for child apron 22f per meter!.. I who paid it 1F50...
Andree leaves at 8 am (6 am in the sun), and it's dark, and she's back at 7 1/2 am. It's long days, but she can handle this work so far.
We thought of the birthday of the good Colette that I would be so happy to see, and all my good little ones that I miss at lunch! (Free religious schools are new authorized and funded) - 30 years ago Miss Helena left her. At Michel's school they are Brothers, but there are only the oldest ones who are religious.
Aunt Note was fine, had a stomach disorder due to cold or food and she's been in bed for 8 days. Vonnette is with her and help for the races.
Knight, who is in a free zone, will give you news too, his wife tired of the cold and her apartment so narrow, is at Tours's home during her absence.
I'm glad you both have work, there's so much room! And Maurice, that I want to know what it is and the health?...Will the regime at the lodger continue, won't you soon take your furniture back?
It seems that in Dampierre there's still something left - and Etienne's crates are at Gourguy's.
We will never meet there, all around the table (there will probably be some chairs!.) Finally here or there I would be very happy to see you all, you think.
Robert Clerc is still a prisoner and his wife has a lot of trouble with his farm and children. Gauvin and the son-in-law of the Camusit are in Germany and it's long!.
Good health to all, I very tenderly kiss you for Andrée and for me
M.M."
Letter from Francis Scola to his goddaughter Claude, March 17, 41, from Bandol
My little Claudet,
Thank you for your good letter, which I would have answered earlier if we had not had to change your aunt and me once more. After more than a month in Marseille, we are here in Bandol, a small town of 2620 inhabitants, whom we already knew for having spent the holidays there, 2 years ago. A good friend of mine was willing to make his villa available when he realized that it would have been impossible for us to find a furnished apartment in Marseille and the harsh conditions in which we would have continued to live by staying at the hotel and going to the restaurant.
We are here until the beginning of next month and Louis who leaves the School of Saint-Cyr on March 28th will join us for the duration of the permission to leave.
Jacqueline is still in Toulouse and will probably stay there until the service to which she is assigned is liquidated. But maybe we can see her again at Easter, if she gets 7 to 8 days off. She tells us in her last letter that Grandma, aunt and cousin are fine.
I knew from your dad that you had a good holiday in the mountains and that you had made your first skiing. It's an excellent sport that will make you all the best, waiting for you to get out of speed by dipping the cîmes. As for me I confess prefer the sea above all the one that bathes the coast of Azur, and that by atavisme I love all the more because it also bathes the coasts of my native country (He was Corsican).
I hope you make progress in Latin and English, a dead language as a living language, each one presents its difficulties, but it is an effort that you will certainly make if you want to get your bachelor's degree later and to this title make your sponsor even more proud of you.
After a terrible time of wind, hail and rain, here is the good weather, and it is with delight that your aunt and I take advantage of the good sun to go for walks along the sea or in pine woods. Goodbye, my dear, I kiss you very hard with your sister and not forgetting your uncle Francis."
A map of Granie at the "Ladies of Sdeaux": her mother Good Mother of Seals and her sister Tandree, 24 April 41
and another of Ms. Leneuf, from Dijon, to Granie, May 27, 1941
(details)
Fanny
Claude
At the 1st Communion meal, Uncle Albert Rougier, a professor of history and normalism, improvised a speech. Albert was the father of Dr. Jean Rougier who lived in Lyon in the years 75/80 and whom Christophe knew at the time he was at ECAM (Catholic School of Arts and Crafts).
First Communion of Fanny and Claude
on 8 June 1941 in Bourg
(details)
Fanny and Claude (she's bigger)
(details)
Official photo of the first Communion at the High School of Bourg in 1941. The Proviser is in the middle, in clothing and white garêtres, between the 2 aumoniers
Behind the communants, you see Aunt Lucia on the left and Grandma Rougier on the right
Fanny and Claude with their parents
from g to d, behind the communicants: Mrs Sala (owner of the house where the Rougier lived), Albert Rougier, ?, ?, Lucie Rougier, Jeanne Rougier, Grand-Mère Rougier, Granie, Grand-Père, Marguerite Maillet (wife of Etienne)
The menu of the party (taking into account the food restrictions of the time)
See also the one sent around 1944, in the chapter Bourg 1943-44
" Nice, 15 June (1941)
My dear Maurice
The ferry is set for 24 June (his eldest son Pierre Rougier probably) And I look forward to it being passed, I am so afraid of Peter's dizzying, especially given the bad conditions of today's life.
Yesterday I stood in line with the meat from 3 to 5 hours for 120g sausage, and since 1 June we have been cut off from the families of the communicants, yet I believe that we are at the limit of the deprivations, Jacques to a terrible mine and Pierre has passed out in the bus on Tuesday.
I'm afraid of this winter. (the 1942, and there will be those of 1943 and 44, increasingly difficult in these non-producing regions) , yet I hope to receive packages to help me, many people this winter (the one from 1941) They were being refueled by their parents who lived in richer departments, but my whole family is in a busy country, now that the parcels are moving between the two areas, I might be able to receive them.
I hope you had a good time on the day of the firstwith (the ones of Fanny and Claude on 8 June 41), And warm, here, May was cold and rainy, and it's only a little bit warmer than eight days ago.
The children join me in kissing you all with all heart.
Madeleine"
Letter from Aunt Cécile 1941, she is in Cancon with her daughter Colette, and Marcel too, it seems
My dear Suzanne
Thanks for the pictures of this great day, we also received from Valencia, the photos that are very well and we keep it in memory.
The supply in Paris is indeed very hard, even in vegetables it seems. Here the meat is very rationed in butchery, and the markets are almost zero, so poultry have disappeared hope that at the autumn we will find it! Automatically we eat more vegetables, which we have at profusion, cherries also but at fairly sustained prices.
My rabbit farming is successful, though I fear that if the sun continues to roast and cannot find its or its grains.
We just went to see Mr Gillet repatriated from Germany, reformed for rheumatism, he lost 12kg but above all the morale is bad, we think he has him in Cancon for a little stay.I told you that my poor friend of the Ardennes who had already had her husband killed in Montmirail, she knew it 8 months later and by a newspaper, the official arrived only a month after, poor little, well discouraged too.
In Cancon, young Mrs. Cambus is beautiful, 6 kg more than last year, you see if she went up, we went with them last night to pick cherries.
As for me, it's six more books than last year, let's not complain about restrictions.
Miss Papou is still here and puts a hit, she presented 10 girls to the certificate of study, all received. little Coreng just failed in the first part of the bachelor's, 40 out of 600 have passed... , what an eliminatory.
Mr. Brassier goes too far in the bottle despite his wife's reprimands, which represents his situation last year; so we hear from time to time dramatic plays. Mr. Lebrigand always good foot.
Marcel is enjoying his tonnelle, which is covered with roses; we have eaten peas from our garden while waiting for the carrots that grow and the potatoes;
We are looking forward to Andrée's visit, provided she can give us all a few days.
Colette is still in class and making progress in reading and size too. We made pretty processes for God's Day and she threw flowers.
I have good news from Villers where life becomes easier, thanks to the breeding of rabbits, hens, pigs, gardens and fruit trees.
Colette's been giving her cousins big kisses.
I'm finishing by kissing you four, lovingly
Cecile
letter from Francis Scola to his goddaughter Claude, of Cannes, 2 January 42
"Cannes this 2-1-1942
Thank you for your good-bye, I wish You are already getting great success in class, but it must encourage you to get more of it until the end of your studies. The progress for the rest will be easier for you to realize that it is enough to take a role in your parents; both are cultivated and enjoy sport: excellent conditions therefore to develop your knowledge and to maintain yourself in good physical shape.
You say you have a lot of appetite, so good if you don't suffer too much from the restrictions.. Unfortunately, the same is not true in Cannes, where supplies are all the more difficult because the country produces nothing. There is virtually no culture in the region and that which exists is exploited by individuals themselves and for their own needs. Your aunt Louise makes wonders so that this food deficiency whose effects we already feel - decrease weight, considerable - does not reduce to skeletal state.
We had the joy of seeing your father again, but the five days he gave us were alas very soon!
However, we were able to enjoy his presence a little more by making him sleep at home in the room that Jacqueline occupies in ordinary time, while he was taking his meals at Grandma's pension.
Your cousin has indeed left for a week in Chamonix with friends, with the intention of doing her first ski trials. According to her last letter, she takes lessons in the morning and then exercises all day on the easiest slopes, the great track being only frequented by the "caléa" people already broken up in this sport. Let's hope that her stay will be without anicoches and that she will return the members to us in full.
Good news of Louis, who, as you know, is in Senegal, in Popeguine exactly, not far from Thiès, a small place inhabited only by indigenous people at the moment, when she was once the seat of an apostolic mission.... which may have come back a little later - (the fathers had fled because of the illness of sleep, the tsetse fly had made victims there).
You ask me if we are happy with our installation. Not too much and because we have had the hope to find a more spacious accommodation, we hesitated to complete our installation - many furniture and objects of all kinds still occupy the room we wanted to make our living room. But without a new home at our convenience, perhaps we will take the part to stop living in flying camp and put everything in place to enjoy at least the 4 rooms that make up our present home.
Goodbye. My little Claude, because I hope you will come here one day, even if only to know our region where the sun shines so much and where the sky and the sea are always blue.
Aunt Louise joins me in kissing all four of you, especially Fanny, who you'll tell me and in the ear, to be a little less "threat" in class.
Your old godfather, Francis.