Camp des Milles

Ted. During our month in Provence, we learned a bit about the history of the region; from the Greeks and Romans right up to Napoleon III. The twentieth century seemed to be all about art and tourism, with the two World Wars relegated to distant rumblings. 

Then we visited Camp des Milles memorial site; a restored internment camp in a leafy suburb of Aix (campdesmilles.org). As we approached the camp, I flashed on a visit I once took with my son to Dachau. Houses are right across the street! How could folks not know what took place inside the walls? But then that’s the point – they knew. They sure did!

In 1939, an abandoned tile factory was opened by the French to house “enemy subjects.” True, these folks carried German and Austrian passports. The fact that they were Jews, artists, homosexuals and political dissidents fleeing for their lives did not seem pertinent.

Come 1940, and the defeat of France by the Nazis, the Vichy government decided to repurpose the camp.

Poster for "Brave Hearts" fascist youth movement

Fortunately, the internees who had been deemed enemies of France were simply rebranded as enemies of French/German national socialism. Now, though, French citizens were added to the mix. 

Cattle car used to transport Jews

Over three years, more than 10,000 people were warehoused here in pretty bad conditions. Some were granted visas and allowed to leave the country. 2,000 men, women and children though, were loaded onto cattle cars for a one way journey to Auschwitz. 

One aspect that touched Judy especially was the large number of artists, musicians and authors who lived in the camp. As one might expect, they tried to liven things up a bit with painting classes and concerts.

  

Space used as a makeshift theatre

Sketch of a dorm

There are still faded paintings and graffiti on some walls. We visited a replica of the famous 30's Berlin Cabaret, Die Katakombe built in a kiln. Life finds a way!

"Freedom, life, peace"

The primary purpose of the Camp des Milles memorial seems to be educational. Racism, bigotry and the threats of totalitarianism exist today in France and around the world. This is an attempt to educate French citizens – especially the youth. The dozens of children we saw walking around were challenged at the end of the tour to consider their own lives and decide how they would react when they, inevitably faced hatred. One photo from 1939 exemplifies quite well that we all must make choices in our lives.