Tag Archives: 1944

Civil defence teams

Civil defence teams: Marseille civil defence workers are congratulated by their chief, Commandant Seydoux, after the raid of 27 May 1944. Courtesy Archives Municipales de Marseille, 29/II/4.

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Civil defence cadres

Civil defence cadres: the prefect-delegate for Marseille with national and regional SIPEG officials after the raid of 27 May 1944. The raid destroyed the local SIPEG headquarters and killed its occupants, as the modern plaque indicates. Courtesy Archives Municipales de … Continue reading

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Shelters: this shelter for Marseille railwaymen

Shelters: this shelter for Marseille railwaymen took a direct hit on 27 May 1944, resulting in up to 100 deaths. Courtesy Archives Municipales de Marseille, 29/II/4.

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Shelters: digging a ‘family trench’

Shelters: digging a ‘family trench’ in Avranches, summer 1944. Useless against a direct hit, this shelter would have protected its occupants against blast and splinters. Collection BDIC-MHC. Tous droits réservés.

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Two neighbourhoods in Marseille after the raid of May 1944

Two neighbourhoods in Marseille after the raid of May 1944 Courtesy Archives Municipales de Marseille (29/II/4).

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Civil defence deaths in Marseille, 27 May 1944

This plaque in central Marseille commemorates the staff of the town’s civil defence headquarters, killed at their posts in the raid of 27 May 1944.             Photo: Andrew Knapp

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Information on casualties

The Bulletin d’Information de la Défense Passive for July 1944 sets out statistics for raids in the second quarter of the year. Courtesy Mémorial de Caen, FQ/72.

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Clearing up (3)

Clearing up (3): Mechanical diggers could be used, as here in Marseille after the raid of 27 May 1944, once there was no hope of bringing anyone out alive. But such machinery was rare, and so was fuel. In Toulon … Continue reading

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Trapped victims

Trapped victims. The immediate task of civil defence teams after a raid (here, on the Paris suburbs, probably in May 1944) was to dig out the living or, when this could not be done immediately, to pump fresh air to … Continue reading

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Shelters: digging a ‘family trench’

Shelters: digging a ‘family trench’ in Avranches, summer 1944. Useless against a direct hit, this shelter would have protected its occupants against blast and splinters. Collection BDIC-MHC. Tous droits réservés.  

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