The Required Work Service Law; or Service du Travail Obligatoire; was passed in 1943 by the Vichy government of France under German occupation. Passage of the law confirmed the French government’s willing collaboration in providing the Nazi regime with French manpower to replace German workers sent to fight in the war. The result was the deportation of 600;000 young Frenchmen to Germany; where they worked under the harshest conditions. Elie Poulard was one of the Frenchmen forced into labor by the Vichy government. Translated by his brother Jean V. Poulard; Elie’s memoir vividly captures the lives of a largely unrecognized group of people who suffered under the Nazis. He describes in great detail his ordeal at different work sites in the Ruhr region; the horrors that he witnessed; and the few Germans who were good to him. Through this account of one eyewitness on the ground; we gain a vivid picture of Allied bombing in the western part of Germany and its contribution to the gradual collapse and capitulation of Germany at the end of the war. Throughout his ordeal; Elie's Catholic faith; good humor; and perseverance sustained him. Little has been published in French or English about the use of foreign workers by the Nazi regime and their fate. The Poulards’ book makes an important contribution to the historiography of World War II; with its firsthand account of what foreign workers endured when they were sent to Nazi Germany. The memoir concludes with an explanation of the ongoing controversy in France over the opposition to the title Déporté du Travail; which those who experienced this forced deportation; like Elie; gave themselves after the war. “A French Slave in Nazi Germany: A Testimony addresses a significant though little-known page of French history during World War II. While many people know of the Vichy government and its collaboration with the Nazis—in particular the deportation of French Jews—few people realized then; and now; the extent of such collaboration. It would surprise many to learn that the Vichy government provided Germany with French citizens who were deported and forced into slave labor in wartime Germany. Poulard’s book confronts this unsavory part of French history and gives personal testimony to the terrible conditions under which the deported laborers existed.†—Michael Khodarkovsky; Loyola University Chicago "The book vividly evokes the life of a young French man forcibly sent to work in Germany during World War II. Once the Vichy Government of France passed the Required Work Service Law in 1943; more than half a million young French men were deported to Germany where they worked in the harshest conditions to replace the German men sent to fight in the war. This testimony is particularly significant today; at a time when all aspects of the war are closely examined. The chapters about the effects of the Allied bombing in the western part of Germany are especially poignant as they allow the reader to witness the gradual collapse and final capitulation of the Nazi regime." —Thomas Pavel; Gordon J. Laing Distinguished Service Professor; University of Chicago "This is a fascinating and depressing account of a young Frenchman sent by his own government to be a slave laborer in Nazi Germany. One can only have enormous respect for Elie Poulard; who persevered and kept his faith in the face of hardship and tragedy. He not only witnessed one of the darkest periods in modern history; but he survived it with cunning and dignity." —John J. Mearsheimer; author of Why Leaders Lie: The Truth about Lying in International Politics "As the passage of time silences the voices of the Second World War generation; we are grateful to have the memories of Elie Poulard. A French Slave in Nazi Germany tells the story of how Elie Poulard’s faith helped him endure the many years of suffering as a Déporté du Travail. His eloquent and gripping tale is testament to the abiding power of the human will in the face of adversity." — Michael Creswell; author of A Question of Balance: How France and the United States Created Cold War Europe
#1198689 in Books 2009-09-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .63 x 6.00l; 1.23 #File Name: 0262026406314 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Radical; Religious; and ViolentBy Betty ReedRadical; Religious; and Violent by Eli Berman is a calm; reasoned; review of current terrorism. Read this book if you are interested in factual data to counterbalance editorials and the evening news.This book looks at violence starting in the late 1500s (historical evidence) as well as hard data derived from recent (the last 50 or so years) to understand the current violence perpetrated by what we generally call terrorists.It is well written and is an easy read. It is not a series of data points but references that data if you want to dig deeper (I did not). It is written for the average reader and no economic background is required. Eli Berman uses short stories (truck drivers with valuable cargo on a dangerous road) to explain the dilemmas they face which; in turn; give rise to decisions they make; which in turn relates to the current terrorism situation.The book points out (and supports) how difficult the current situation is but it also provides supporting data for the one proven counteroffensive that has worked in the past. There is a way to end all this; but you will have to read to the book to find out. Personally; I am convinced he is right in his conclusion.The fact this book uses hard data; first making assumptions and then supporting those assumptions by facts (essentially proving the conjecture) is what makes it so compelling. This book is an excellent counterbalance to the evening news or the sensationalism we so often hear. There are nasty things going on in the world but there is a reason for them and understanding that reason is crucial to stopping it. This book provides that counterbalance.If you are interested in a fact-based understanding of the current rise in Islamic violence then read this book.Even if you think you already know the reason for the current violence; buy this book. It is an eye opener and; I think; will change your opinion of the current situation no matter what you currently believe.For me; this book removed some of the fear generated by terrorism. There is a reason for it; there are targets; there is a way out. It has become a "thing" to be approached as opposed to some difficult to define monster out to kill off the rest of the world.Read this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Understanding some of the motivations for terrorism.By Dr. P. SobeyThis book is a look at the economic motivators and limiters in violent organisations. It is a refreshing look beyond the rhetoric of terrorism and into the forces that allow clubs; especially religious clubs; to become violent. The authors also then look at how these forces can be diverted and dissipated so that clubs are unlikely to become violent.The conclusions are very similar to what I learned in Socialism 101 as what a socialist society should try to achieve. Good governance; government provision of adequate services to all (health; education; housing; etc); and basically creating a society where everyone feels they have a stake.There is a lot of material on the Israel/Palestine conflict; largely because there is more data on this conflict than others. This does not detract from the conclusions. On the contrary; it would be good to see the authors insights applied on the ground in this part of the world.There are a few errors in the graphs and diagrams but these are minor and do not detract from the whole. They are just annoying because they are so obvious and I am so pedantic!The Australian counter-terrorism expert Lieutenenant Colonel Dr. David Kilcullen is cited several times to good effect.I found this book fascinating. It should be required reading for every soldier and NGO personnel in intervention forces.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Insightful to a challenging topicBy AAIn a topic as complex as terrorism; Dr. Berman elucidates key observations and thought provoking points about the social complexities that confront the United States abroad. His book is filled with fluid examples that articulate the motivations of violent and extreme individuals and provides a foundation to more fully understand the events of our recent past. Radical; Religious and Violent can be understood by the ordinary reader as well as academia.
