Chapter 5 – Determination
"The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway
Louis found it difficult to contain his mounting rage as Danielle guided him through the Lutetia. He knew the Boche to be ruthless and cruel but never in his wildest imaginings did he believe them capable of such systematic abuse. Danielle had confessed to him that she and her fellow volunteers had been horrified when they realized the true condition of the returning deportés. They had expected them to be exhausted and malnourished, not deliberately starved. They had expected them to be lean or perhaps even gaunt, not emaciated. They had expected them to have bruises, or at the most, broken bones, not untreated wounds and sores compounded by serious illness. They had expected them to be in a condition from which they could easily recover, not in a critical, life-threatening state.
Louis struggled to comprehend the testimony of his own eyes; the evidence pointed to some sinister abomination that he simply could not fathom. His thoughts went back to his stay in Stalag 13. What happened to these persons? Did this happen in Germany? Why did we not know of this? Did London know? Why did they not tell us if they knew? The Colonel would have done something!
He whirled around to confront Danielle, demanding, "How did this happen? How in God's name was this allowed to be done?"
Up until this moment, Danielle had patiently answered all of his questions with the greatest detail but now she simply said, "That I cannot tell you Louis, for I do not know. You will have to ask them. It is not my place to presume, for it is their story to tell."
Louis raised a hand to his forehead. "I...I apologize Danielle. What I have seen has left me very...agitated." Seeking to get his anger under control, he turned towards the wall and came face to face with a classically stylized painting depicting the three Furies. How appropriate, he thought.
Danielle nodded sadly. "Do you now understand why I insisted you see everything before you made your decision to volunteer?"
"Oui", said Louis. "I understand completely. And yet, I could not live with myself if I did not provide whatever help I can." He turned around to grasp Danielle gently by her shoulders. "I know from experience that we can accomplish much when we work together."
Danielle looked deep into Louis' eyes and saw the determination blazing within. Suddenly finding his enthusiasm contagious, she smiled and took him by the hand. "Come Louis. Let us go see Madame Zlatin. She will know exactly how you can help."
"Mille fois merci Danielle!" Immensely relieved, Louis moved suddenly to kiss her on the cheek before he even realized that he had done so. "Oh I…I beg your pardon…," he stuttered as he retreated to a more respectful distance.
Danielle blushed and chuckled to herself at his embarrassment; she was pleasantly surprised to find that her heart felt just a little bit lighter after spending these past several hours in Louis' company. "Do not worry Louis!" she whispered as they headed back upstairs to the offices.
Later than evening, Louis and Danielle shared a late meal with Madame Zlatin in the Lutetia's dining room. They had finished eating and were enjoying their coffee as the staff cleaned up around them in preparation for the next day's service. Danielle noticed that Louis had carefully observed the dinner service as well as the various actions and reactions of the guests. He was particularly dismayed by the considerable amount of food that had been left uneaten. She glanced at Mme. Zlatin, who gently nodded in acknowledgement.
"It will not be wasted Monsieur LeBeau," said Mme. Zlatin. "That would be an unforgivable sin."
Louis sighed, "I agree Madame. I only wish your guests were able to eat it in order to help regain their strength. May I work up menus for those who are still too ill for a normal meal? I have many ideas if you would like to discuss them."
"I knew you would not fail us Monsieur LeBeau," smiled Mme. Zlatin. "You have practical compassion for others. That is a very valuable quality to have in this world." She gestured in the direction of the kitchen. "Your experience as a chef, particularly in feeding ill and malnourished persons, will be most useful and welcome here. I am only sorry I cannot offer you any type of stipend for your services; as you are aware, we are all volunteers here. You are, of course, welcome to take all of your meals here. As to accommodations, I am sure you observed earlier that we are nearly full here."
"Please do not concern yourself Madame Zlatin, I am staying with my family. They have plenty of room and time yet to tire of me."
Both Danielle and Mme. Zlatin laughed.
Mme. Zlatin said, "I am sure they are beside themselves with joy that you returned to them safe and sound. Although I perceive that you are not a stranger to hardship, Monsieur LeBeau."
After seeing the condition of the Lutetia's guests, Louis felt like the luckiest man in the world to have been able to return home in fairly healthy shape. He answered honestly, "Oui, Madame, I have been very fortunate. In the camp I found friends who became as close as brothers to me. We took care of each other, we kept each other safe. Much as I imagine those who are now sheltering here supported each other in order to survive."
"That is true," replied Mme. Zlatin. "When we are stripped of everything, we prove what we really are. Many lost the very core of their being. Others, however, managed to somehow keep their dignity. I do not speak in judgment, for I was not there with these unfortunate ones. We each react to adversity differently."
Danielle nodded her agreement, "I agree. Unfortunately, even those left behind did not escape the suffering caused by the occupation. Especially those of us who tried to resist."
Mme. Zlatin sighed, "We have all suffered, some much more than others. That is why we must work for the healing of our nation. I truly believe that what we are seeking to accomplish here is what Miron would have done were he here. Until he returns, I shall work for both of us."
"I was told he was taken by the Gestapo," said Louis.
"Yes," murmured Mme. Zlatin. "He and all the children."
Louis was shocked. "Oh Madame, I am so sorry! The Boche took your children as well?"
"Oui, although they were not true flesh and blood, we considered them ours; Miron and I did not have children of our own."
Louis normally did not insist on invading another's privacy to satisfy his curiosity but he felt compelled to learn everything he could about what had happened in his country whilst he had been incarcerated in Germany. "Then, if you do not mind my asking…," Louis began.
"No, I do not mind Monsieur LeBeau." Mme. Zlatin shook her head sadly. "I do not mind telling you what happened that day."
Danielle laid her hand gently atop Mme. Zlatin's forearm, silently begging her to reconsider discussing the tragedy that overtook her a little over a year ago. Mme. Zlatin patted Danielle's hand and nodded. "You are very kind to worry about me, my dear. Please know that I gain strength with each telling, and my story needs to be told so that it will never happen again. Although as you have heard my tale numerous times, I am not sure if you wish to do so again."
Danielle's eyes glistened with tears as she replied, "Sabine, if you are able to tell it, I am certainly able to hear it."
"Ah oui, then…where to begin….where to begin…," Mme. Zlatin gazed down at the table for a moment before she began speaking with restrained emotion.
"Miron and I supported ourselves by raising poultry on our farm at Landas. When the war began, I decided to take a military nursing course at the Red Cross in Lille. In May 1940, as the Germans continued to advance, Miron and I fled to Montpellier, where I was posted to the military hospital in Lauwe. I was able to continue there until June 1941, when I was dismissed due to the Statuts des juifs passed by Vichy."
Louis barely halted himself from spitting on the floor at the mention of the collaborationist Vichy government. He had been infuriated when his family informed him of the division of his beloved France into zones of occupation and authority, all at the behest of the Germans. He forced himself to clear his mind so he could concentrate on Mme. Zlatin's words.
"So that is how we found ourselves in the Hérault prefecture in the French-occupied zone, where Miron and I began working with the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants. Whilst there, we were able to secure the release of children who had been interned in the camps at Agde and Rivesaltes."
She paused to take a sip of her now cold coffee and Louis poured a fresh cup for her. "Merci, Monsieur LeBeau."
"Please Madame Zlatin, call me Louis."
"Very well, Louis. As we are to be working together, it would be well for you to call me Sabine."
"Merci, Sabine," smiled Louis.
"When the Germans occupied the French Zone in 1943, Miron and I took 17 children to the Italian Occupation Zone where we received permission to use a large house in the village of Izieu. There we established the Settlement for Refugee Children from Hérault. We kept the fact that all were Jewish concealed for everyone's protection. Things worked well for some time; the children were happy, safe and secure. We were eventually able to free more children from the internment camps. On that horrible day we had 44 precious ones in the house."
Mme. Zlatin paused to gather herself for her next words and Danielle gently took her left hand within both of hers.
"I was not there on that day, 6th April of last year. I had traveled to Montpellier to seek larger, safer quarters for the children. Oh if only I had done so earlier! Perhaps…perhaps…we could have moved them before the Germans came." She gazed sadly at Louis. "Ah Louis! What regrets I have! How many times I thought, if only, if only, if only. But what use is it now? What happened has happened."
Louis reached to gently place his hand on Mme. Zlatin's shoulder. "What did happen Sabine?"
"Léon, that is, Léon Reifman was there visiting his sister who worked with us. He escaped out the second story window when the Germans arrived. He told me how the Lyon Gestapo and the Milice raided the house that morning and forced the children onto lorries. They took Miron and the other caretakers as well. Léon did not know where they took them and I have not been able to find out anything. I cling to the hope that I will see them again, perhaps even as guests here at the Lutetia. That is why we must do our best, Louis. These poor ones here in the hotel are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, wives and...and husbands. They are loved as my Miron and my children are loved."
Louis, touched to the quick by her experience, leaned closer to take Mme. Zlatin's right hand whilst keeping his other hand on her shoulder. "Madame, I cannot comprehend how you have managed to cope with such heartbreak."
Mme. Zlatin looked Louis directly in his eyes. "I shed all the tears I will ever possess when I returned to Izieu to find what had happened. I could not believe so many tears existed. Yet even as I grieved, I clearly heard Miron's voice in my mind and I realized that he would insist on me carrying on. Yes, my beloved Miron would be bitterly disappointed in me if I allowed the Germans to halt our work. So I returned to Paris and joined the Resistance."
Mon Dieu! thought Louis, awestruck at this woman's determined courage.
Mme. Zlatin sighed, "I will either rejoice or grieve further when the time comes. Until then, I will stay busy. You see Louis, I must stay busy to keep my sanity."
Louis nodded. He had felt the same way during his first year in the stalag. He gave thanks constantly for the day Colonel Hogan arrived and recruited him for his team, giving him renewed determination to survive.
Sadly, Mme. Zlatin's story would prove all too typical of the hellish nightmare just passed.
Author's Notes:
The Three Furies - Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; in Greek and Roman mythology, the three terrible winged goddesses with serpentine hair who pursue and punish doers of unavenged crimes.
The story of La Maison d'Izieu is true and is based upon multiple historical accounts.
Vichy France, officially the French State (État français), was France during the regime of Marshal Philippe Pétain, during World War II from the German victory in the Battle of France (July 1940) to the Allied liberation in August 1944. (Wikipedia)
The Statuts des juifs (Statutes on Jews) were discriminatory statutes against French Jews passed by the Vichy Regime in 1940 and 1941. The statutes were aimed at depriving the Jews of the right to hold public office, designating them as a lower class, and depriving them of employment as well as citizenship. (Wikipedia)
Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants or translated as "Organization to Save the Children" (commonly abbreviated as OSE), is a French Jewish humanitarian organization that, during World War II, saved and aided many hundreds of mainly Jewish refugee children, both from France and from other Western European countries. During the most important period after the German occupation of France and the creation of Vichy France, OSE worked mainly in Vichy France. (Wikipedia)
The Milice française (French Militia), generally called simply Milice, was a paramilitary force created on January 30, 1943 by the Vichy Regime, with German aid, to help fight the French Resistance. (Wikipedia)