Description :
This radio programme is part of Radio País and was produced within the framework of the European Rede Tramontana (Réseau Tramontana / Tramontana Network) project, co-funded by the European Union. The project seeks to preserve and promote Europe’s oral heritage by collecting testimonies, local memories, languages, and personal histories that reflect the experiences of communities and contribute to a better understanding of the past.
In this episode of Reality and Humanity, Fabrice welcomes Jean-Paul Ferré to present another testimony from a pedagogical archive created through local research in the Garbet Valley. Jean-Paul introduces the work of Michel Pujol, an educator originally from Couserans, who participated in collecting memories from villages in this mountain area. The discussion focuses on the consequences of the Second World War and the German occupation, particularly the persecution of Jewish populations. Jean-Paul explains the historical context of the August 1942 roundups organised by the Vichy authorities, which led to arrests, deportations, and the disappearance of Jewish families from the region.
The programme features Michel Pujol’s childhood memories of two Jewish children who lived temporarily in the village of Ascol before being taken away. His testimony highlights the innocence and incomprehension of children confronted with tragic historical events, as they did not understand the reasons behind these disappearances at the time. The speakers also discuss the importance of collecting around thirty to thirty-five testimonies from local inhabitants and transforming them into educational resources, documentaries, exhibitions, and broadcasts. The episode emphasises that preserving oral memory is a collective effort involving associations, municipalities, researchers, and local communities.