The Etobon Project
"Remember! 39 men from Etobon were summarily buried here, having been shot by the Nazis on September 27, 1944 against the wall of the church. They were moved to their final resting place in the Etobon cemetery on December 8, 1944."
Living in eastern France, near Germany, i learned much about the occupation of France during World War II. The experiences of my friends and neighbors led to a profound and enduring interest in this period of France's history.
The Etobon Project began as a translation of the journal of Jules Perret, blacksmith in Etobon, France, during the occupation. The story of this tiny village and its sacrifices are central to my understanding of those years. When the initial translation was completed, I began to discover addition materials in French that needed a wider audience. On these pages, you'll find translations I've done of materials provided to me that are first-hand accounts of the lives of French villagers, soldiers, and others as they navigated the reality of occupation by a cruel and merciless regime.
I hope you find these accounts as moving and enlightening as I do.
I have posted entries I've translated from a French soldier's journal from the early days of World War II. I believe it's important to tell the story of occupied France through the words of those who experienced it, and this journal continues my work.
I hope you find them interesting and insightful.
September 27, 2014, I was honored to speak at the 70th commemoration of the massacre at Etobon, France. The sun shone on over 200 people gathered to remember those who were murdered by German troops at the end of World War II. The mayor, my colleague Pastor Samuel Kpoty and I were joined by students from the Etobon-Chenebier primary school and community members in honoring those who died for France.
September 29, I visited the only World War II concentration camp in France, at Struthof in Alsace. It is a sobering place that housed over 52,000 prisoners during its time. Many of the prisoners were resistance leaders from countries in Western Europe and high-level officers in the Free French Army. Most died there. Some survived and shared their testimony of their days in the death camp. Their drawings and writings are a powerful witness to systematic evil. It’s important never to forget the history of this little-known camp. Even though reliving this part of France’s history is painful, continuing to share the story means the thousands who died at Struthof did not sacrifice in vain. Translation of this history makes this story accessible to people around the world.
The monument overlooking the Struthof concentration camp
Etobon, France, Struthof, World War II, translation 2014 marked 100 years since the outbreak of World War I and 70 years since the invasion of Europe by Allied troops, resulting in the liberation of much of western Europe. Around the globe, including in places like India and New Zealand, people remembered 1914 and 1944 through letters, diaries, photographs and newspaper articles. It was a year to remember the sacrifice and worldwide suffering resulting from those wars.
Some families have documents related to their ancestors' service in the wars that are in another language. Joe Atkinson's family, for example, had several newspaper articles and letters in French that they wanted to have translated so they could share them with future generations. Those who safeguard the memory of British Indian troops in World War II are glad to have access to the story of Commonwealth soldiers translated from French into English. Translation makes these important accounts available to new audiences and preserves history.
Does your family have letters, articles or journals from the World Wars that are in French? Would you like to have them translated into English? Contact me and I can provide you with a price and timetable for your translation. Understanding your family's history is important.
World War I, World War II, journals, newspaper articles, translation I'm honored to take part in EnglishPen's World Poetry Day translation project. Imprisoned Cameroonian poet Enoh Meyomesse's work is focused on his experience of persecution and suffering. My translation of his poem
‘Mon chapeau, je te lève’ is found on their website. The project draws attention to Meyomesse's plight as well as that of many other writers whose voices have been silenced by repressive regimes.
I tip my hat to you, old hat
My old hat,
I tip my hat to you
You have known imprisonment
So that others may be free
I tip my hat to you, old hat
My old hat,
I tip my hat to you
You have known exile
So that others may be free
I tip my hat to you, old hat
My old hat,
I tip my hat to you
You have known persecution
So that others may be free
I tip my hat to you, old hat
My old hat,
I tip my hat to you
You have known handcuffs that eat away my skin
Fear that leaves me voiceless
My guts twisted in pain
My mouth dry as a stone
And my chest suffocating
And my hands that tremble,
That tremble
That tremble
Tremble
Tremble
ALL ALONE
Like leaves blown about in a tornado
You
Have felt the truncheon cruelly tearing at my back in the CHAPEL
and the boots kicking my ribs in rage and the machete
violently beating my swollen feet and the hut’s flimsy door
broken down and the mattress torn up in the dry-eyed search for pamphlets written by me and the straw ceiling pierced by the bayonet and the raffia roof torched with a smirk
I TIP MY HAT TO YOU, OLD HAT
Now that I’m the laughing stock of the world
Now that I’m the laughing stock of everyone
Now that I’m the laughing stock of my closest friends
I’ve discovered O God
That it’s not easy to give your soul your body your being your life as a sacrifice for the good of others