The Etobon Project
"Remember! 39 men from Etobon were summarily buried here, having been shot by the Nazis on September 27, 1944 against the wall of the church. They were moved to their final resting place in the Etobon cemetery on December 8, 1944."
Living in eastern France, near Germany, i learned much about the occupation of France during World War II. The experiences of my friends and neighbors led to a profound and enduring interest in this period of France's history.
The Etobon Project began as a translation of the journal of Jules Perret, blacksmith in Etobon, France, during the occupation. The story of this tiny village and its sacrifices are central to my understanding of those years. When the initial translation was completed, I began to discover addition materials in French that needed a wider audience. On these pages, you'll find translations I've done of materials provided to me that are first-hand accounts of the lives of French villagers, soldiers, and others as they navigated the reality of occupation by a cruel and merciless regime.
I hope you find these accounts as moving and enlightening as I do.
I have posted entries I've translated from a French soldier's journal from the early days of World War II. I believe it's important to tell the story of occupied France through the words of those who experienced it, and this journal continues my work.
I hope you find them interesting and insightful.
September 27, 2014, I was honored to speak at the 70th commemoration of the massacre at Etobon, France. The sun shone on over 200 people gathered to remember those who were murdered by German troops at the end of World War II. The mayor, my colleague Pastor Samuel Kpoty and I were joined by students from the Etobon-Chenebier primary school and community members in honoring those who died for France.
September 29, I visited the only World War II concentration camp in France, at Struthof in Alsace. It is a sobering place that housed over 52,000 prisoners during its time. Many of the prisoners were resistance leaders from countries in Western Europe and high-level officers in the Free French Army. Most died there. Some survived and shared their testimony of their days in the death camp. Their drawings and writings are a powerful witness to systematic evil. It’s important never to forget the history of this little-known camp. Even though reliving this part of France’s history is painful, continuing to share the story means the thousands who died at Struthof did not sacrifice in vain. Translation of this history makes this story accessible to people around the world.
The monument overlooking the Struthof concentration camp
Etobon, France, Struthof, World War II, translation