Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

New recruit from France

Discussion in '☆☆ New Recruits ☆☆' started by fsignorile, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. fsignorile

    fsignorile New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2016
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Athis-Mons
    Hi everyone!

    I have signed in on this forum a few months ago, and it is about time I introduce myself.
    My name is Franck, I live in the southern suburb of Paris.

    I have always been interested in WW2, and I have a special interest in everything related to Escape and Evasion. I have researched a number of individual stories for more than four years with a growing passion and the help of several experts. Michael Moores LeBlanc has mentored me for quite a while.

    There is a website I have been working on, which is dedicated to the "Helpers" from France.

    My current research project is related to the "lost airmen of Buchenwald", a group of 168 airmen who were arrested in 1944 and all sent to KLB. The subject has been discussed in this forum in the past, and I will probably create a new thread soon in order to discuss it some more.

    Franck
     
  2. lwd

    lwd Ace

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    12,322
    Likes Received:
    1,245
    Location:
    Michigan
    Welcome. Sounds like you already plan some interesting contributions.
     
  3. gtblackwell

    gtblackwell Member Emeritus

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    2,271
    Likes Received:
    678
    Location:
    Auburn, Alabama, US
    Bienvenue, welcome back again !! I too look forward to your post on your topic. Many must have passed through Paris.

    Gaines
     
  4. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2011
    Messages:
    7,217
    Likes Received:
    1,270
    Location:
    The Land of 10,000 Loons
    Welcome to the Forum, Franck.
     
  5. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2010
    Messages:
    9,504
    Likes Received:
    3,037
    G'day and welcome...
     
  6. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2009
    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    210
    Location:
    Washington State
    Welcome Franck
     
  7. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2003
    Messages:
    20,815
    Likes Received:
    3,042
    Location:
    Stirling, Scotland
    Welcome to the forums!
     
  8. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,288
    Likes Received:
    2,605
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Welcome Franck. We're a pretty friendly lot, so feel free to jump in.
     
  9. fsignorile

    fsignorile New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2016
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Athis-Mons
    Thank you guys for your replies.

    I will start a new topic on "Air War in Western Europe 1939 - 1945", which is probably the right place to discuss the following questions :
    - who betrayed these 168 men (well 169...) and how?
    - Why were they sent to Buchenwald and not others?
    - how the Germans organized the capture of airmen who were caught in civilian clothes?
    - how were the Germans managing the flow of airmen sent to the Fresnes prison?
    ...

    The lack of German archives (especially from the SD/Gestapo in Paris) makes it difficult to answer these questions, and I have not found definitive answers in existing books or on the web.
    Having done my own research, I have tried to find answers which are probably questionnable, and I would like to share what I have found with others who might have done similar research in the past.

    Franck
     
  10. Ruud

    Ruud Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2012
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    222
    Location:
    Maastricht Netherlands
    Bienvenue.
     
  11. YugoslavPartisan

    YugoslavPartisan Drug

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2015
    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    182
    Location:
    Pannonia
    Welcome Franck!
     
  12. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    24,984
    Likes Received:
    2,386
  13. Ruud

    Ruud Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2012
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    222
    Location:
    Maastricht Netherlands
    Welcome !
     
  14. RRA227

    RRA227 Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2011
    Messages:
    1,684
    Likes Received:
    515
    Welcome! Rich A. in Pa.
     
  15. Otto

    Otto Spambot Nemesis Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2000
    Messages:
    9,781
    Likes Received:
    1,818
    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    Bienvenue fsignorile/Franck, very happy to have you join.

    What is the website you are working on? I'd like to see your work.
     
  16. fsignorile

    fsignorile New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2016
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Athis-Mons
    Otto : My website is available here : http://www.aide-aviateurs-allies-ww2.fr/

    At this point, the website is only available in French, but even if you are not familiar with the language, please have a look at the map-based research tool that is available on the "Helpers" tab. Most of the hard work is here.
    The whole point of my website is to honor the memory of those who helped downed airmen evade from France. Many were members of organized escape lines, but the great majority was not.
    The current database includes about 21,000 entries, from all over France. Zoom on the map and you will see they were everywhere.

    With a group of experts, we are now trying to rebuild the connections between all helpers and all evaders, at the scale of the country. Pretty ambitious...

    Feedbacks are welcome.

    Franck
     
    Skipper likes this.
  17. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2009
    Messages:
    14,288
    Likes Received:
    2,605
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    I had a chance to briefly look at your site. I wish I understood French, but your map is clear. I hope your quest to dig further is successful.
     

Share This Page