Prisoners of war
History of a captive community (1940–1945)
In the summer of 1940, more than 1,600,000 of the 1,800,000 French soldiers captured were taken to Germany. These prisoners of war, aged between 18 and 48, from all socio-professional categories, from the mainland, the overseas territories and the former French colonies, shared until the summer of 1945 the harsh experience of captivity, which inscribed them within a true community. More than just an episode of the Second World War, captivity is an unprecedented social phenomenon that contributes to the trauma of defeat. Almost all families are affected, directly or indirectly. The absence of this living force weighs heavily on society and leaves women and children facing the difficulties of everyday life. Initially confined in the French Frontstalags, the prisoners were then dispersed in the Stalags and Oflags of Outre-Rhin, links of a vast system of internment conceived by the Third Reich on all the territories he controlled: Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia. Their lives are organized according to the needs of the German economy, which in turn welcomes and mistrusts this forced labor. The fate of the prisoners was a major issue for the Vichy government, and every compromise was attempted. Deprived of their freedom for five years, exiled to a foreign land and separated from their families, the prisoners must draw on themselves sufficient resources to overcome this ordeal with dignity.
Discover this exhibition with your family!
Dive into history in the company of Jean, our prisoner guide and mascot of the exhibition. Children (from 7 years) are invited to explore the place in a fun and interactive way: thanks to QR codes, they will be able to download content specially designed for them, directly on a smartphone.
Inside the exhibition, a space is entirely dedicated to them: reconstitution of a prisoner’s room, facsimile manipulation, board games and workshops in free access... What an immersive and educational experience!
INFORMATION
05 55 45 84 44
