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 aims to preserve and transmit Europe’s oral heritage by collecting personal testimonies, local memories, languages, and historical experiences. Through these recordings, it contributes to a better understanding of the lives of communities and the human dimensions of major historical events.
In this episode of Reality and Humanity, Jean-Paul Ferré presents a testimony from Henri Douniac, an inhabitant of Saint-Girons, recorded as part of a pedagogical project based on oral history. The discussion focuses on the liberation of Saint-Girons on 20 August 1944, during the final stages of the Second World War. Henri Douniac, who was 18 years old at the time, recalls the atmosphere of the liberation, the movements of German troops, the role of the Maquis resistance fighters, and the battles that took place in the surrounding area, including the fighting at Riumont. His testimony provides a personal perspective on an event often described only through historical accounts.
The programme also explores the complexity of wartime memories, including the diversity of those involved in the resistance, such as Spanish Republican refugees and young people escaping forced labour. Jean-Paul and Fabrice discuss how oral testimonies reveal not only historical facts but also emotions, fears, moral questions, and the psychological impact of violence. The episode highlights the importance of preserving these voices through educational resources, allowing future generations to understand the realities of war and the human experiences behind historical events.