“If they had known these times, they would behave a little better”, worry these resistance fighters from the Second World War

Former resistance fighters are worried by the early legislative elections. They no longer know who to give their vote to and deplore that “the extremes” have a chance of gaining power in France. Testimonials.

On June 18, 1940, General de Gaulle launched, from London, his famous appeal to refuse defeat and to continue the fight against the enemy. From left to right of the political spectrum, those who experienced the liberation of France from the Nazis by the Allies during the Second World War are worried about the French political situation.

Raymond Renaud did not hear the call of June 18: his family did not have TSF in 1940. He only learned of the existence of General de Gaulle six months later… Which did not help him. did not hesitate to resist in his own way. A member of the Communist Youth 80 years ago, he was arrested and handed over to the Gestapo before being deported to Buchenwald, a Nazi concentration camp. “We especially denounced Pétain’s collaboration”he says from the height of his 101 years.

Eight decades after his return from the camps, times have changed, but the survivor nevertheless sees common points in all far-right discourse. Speeches “which mainly concern hatred and the rejection of a certain part of the population, explains Raymond Renaud. At that time, they condemned the Jews and the communists because they had no Arabs on hand. quips the former resistance fighter.

Jacqueline Fleury, who was part of several resistance networks before being deported to Ravensbrück, does not understand the dissolution of the National Assembly: “Kicking out MPs and quickly organizing elections seems completely absurd to me”criticizes the centenarian, who sees in our politicians today elected officials “who look at their navel” and for whom “France does not count”.

“I’m distraught, I don’t even know how to vote anymore”

Daniel Huilier, one of the Vercors maquis fighters in July 1944

at franceinfo

Daniel Huilier, one of the Vercors maquis fighters in July 1944, said he was worried about the French political climate as the early legislative elections approached. At just 16 years old, he “lost two uncles, one deported and the other murdered, the day before the Liberation, in Grenoble, in front of me”.

Traumatic events which lead him to be outraged by current political quarrels: “If they had known these times, they would all behave a little better,” he gets annoyed. “They are all extremists, whether it’s the left or the right. That’s not okay. I am a lifelong Gaullist, I do not want the extreme right or the extreme left to come to power” he chokes.

A complicated dilemma for the veteran: “Supporting Macron, while it’s not my cup of tea, it’s still perhaps the best…” However, Daniel Huilier “do not despair” and think “that one day, everyone will wake up. I hope so for my country” he concludes.