Mevisse, Paule

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Description de l'interview extraite du site US Fortunoff / Biographie à venir

Paule Mevisse was born in Yenakiieve, Russia (presently Ukraine) in 1912. She recounts being in Russia due to her father's employment; her brother's birth; fleeing to the Kola Peninsula during the revolution; her brother's death; moving to England for a year, then Isbergues, France; her sister's birth; moving to Beverwijk; attending a Dutch school; moving to Uccle in 1924; completing university in 1934; becoming a professor of German literature; traveling with her sister in Germany in 1934; observing antisemitic signs; sheltering German refugees; German invasion in May 1940; joining the Front de l'indépendance; hiding Jews, partisans, and illegal refugees; hiding in Wezembeek; arrest in Beerse in summer 1943; interrogation at Avenue Louise; incarceration in St. Gilles; deportation to Essen, Mesum, then Kreuzberg; a trial in Gross Strehlitz; a two-year prison sentence; transfer to Oppeln, then Dessau; volunteering to harvest crops; clandestinely taking vegetables to share with fellow prisoners; sabotaging work assignments; observing Soviet prisoners of war in abysmal conditions; encountering a British POW who sent a letter to her family; escaping with friends; liberation by United States troops; assistance from the Red Cross; working as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Bebra; traveling with a friend to her home in France; her father's arrival; returning home with him; and resuming her teaching position. Ms. M. discusses initially sharing her experiences, then reluctance to do so until recently, and receiving a prisoner of war pension.

(Copyright : Fortunoff Video Archives for Holocaust Testimonies – Yale)

Ressources

Fiche interview

Code interview : YA/FA/086
Date interview : 04/10/1995
Lieu interview : Centre Audiovisuel de l’Université Libre de Bruxelles
Durée interview : 4h36
Langue interview : Français
Interviewers : Yannis Thanassekos et Michel Rosenfeldt
Cameraman : Laurent Frisque
Consultation : Autorisée
Indexation thématique : Oui
Séquençage interview : non