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Évadé
''Évadés'' (French; or 'the escaped', sometimes ), often referred to in France as the évadés de France () to distinguish them from escaped prisoners of war, were French and Belgian nationals who attempted to escape from German-occupied Europe to reach the United Kingdom or other Allied territories in World War II. Many attempted to cross the French border into Spain with the help of paid intermediaries (''passeurs'') or local sympathisers in an attempt to reach Portugal or Gibraltar Colony where it was possible to arrange transport to the United Kingdom with Allied help. A smaller number instead travelled to Sweden or Switzerland, and a small number of French ''évadés'' instead sought to travel through the Soviet Union. Many were detained by local police as they crossed illegally through the ''zone libre'' in Vichy France and were sometimes forced to enlist with Vichy's Foreign Legion in French North Africa or the work camps run by the '' Chantiers de la Jeunesse''. Onc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Prisoners Of War In World War II
Although no precise estimates exist, the number of French soldiers captured by Nazi Germany during the Battle of France between May and June 1940 is generally recognised around 1.8 million, equivalent to around 10 percent of the total adult male population of France at the time. After a brief period of captivity in France, most of the prisoners were deported to Germany. In Germany, prisoners were incarcerated in '' Stalag'' or ''Oflag'' prison camps, according to rank, but the vast majority were soon transferred to work details ('' Kommandos'') working in German agriculture or industry. Prisoners from the French colonial empire, however, remained in camps in France with poor living conditions as a result of Nazi racial ideologies. During negotiations for the Armistice of 22 June 1940, the Vichy French government adopted a policy of collaboration in hopes for German concessions allowing repatriation. The Germans nevertheless deferred the return of prisoners until the negoti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
