Retreat
Monday, August 12, 2019 at 9:19AM Retreat to Châlons sur Marne
Tuesday, June 11, 1940
The officers of the 8th Engineers turned us over to the 310th Campagne Artillery Regiment. Retreat: the order was given by the 310th’s commandant to get on board a truck or bus, headed for Châlons-sur-Marne. Everyone is sheltering in the immense cellars of the Brasserie La Comète.
After that, no one was in charge of us. We had to take responsibility for ourselves. That’s what we were told.
Desperate flight
Wednesday, June 12, 1940
There are a thousand bicycles in front of the Brasserie. We asked the advice of some MPs, who told us each to take a bicycle and try to get to the south, meaning the Mediterranean, in the hope of getting out via Corsica or Algeria or another colony.
We left Châlons-sur-Marne that same morning, traveling via Thibié and arriving in La Fère-Champenoise on the morning of Thursday the 13th. There was an intense bombardment by Stukas that were dropping bombs one after the other.
After the assault, we rested there. Large numbers of civilians were leaving. It’s a desperate flight and the beginning of a huge mess. There’s disorganization, fear, a human flood. We’re waiting for tomorrow. What will it bring?