Description :
This episode of Radio País is part of the European Tramontana Network (Réseau Tramontana / Tramontana Network), co-funded by the European Union, a project devoted to preserving the oral heritage, local languages, memories and cultural traditions of Europe’s rural and mountain communities. Through Henriette’s testimony, the programme documents how personal and family memories contribute to a shared understanding of twentieth-century history.
The presenter introduces the interview by recalling previous conversations with Henriette before turning to the subject of war. Henriette recounts the experience of her father, who served a long period in the French army, combining compulsory military service with the years of the First World War. She describes the harsh living conditions endured by soldiers, including exposure to cold, poor shelter and the lasting physical consequences that affected her father throughout the rest of his life, particularly chronic rheumatism resulting from his wartime service.
The programme concludes by reflecting on the lasting place of the First World War in collective memory. Rather than focusing on military events, it highlights the human cost of the conflict and its enduring impact on families and rural communities. The presenter also notes how the war influenced political attitudes towards regional languages in France, underlining the close relationship between memory, identity and linguistic heritage.