- Summary
- "It is widely assumed that the French in the British Isles during the Second World War were fully-fledged supporters of General de Gaulle, and that across the channel at least, the French were a 'nation of resisters'. This highly provocative study reveals that most exiles were on British soil by chance rather than by design, and many were not sure whether to stay. Overlooked by historians, who have concentrated on the 'Free French' of de Gaulle, these were the 'Forgotten French': refugees swept off the beaches of Dunkirk; servicemen held in camps after the Franco-German armistice; Vichy consular officials left to cater for their compatriots; and a sizeable colonist community based mainly in London.".
"Illustrated throughout, this is essential reading for anyone interested in the British and French experiences of the Second World War."--BOOK JACKET.
- Format
- Book
- Author/Creator
- Atkin, Nicholas.
- Published
- Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press : Distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave, 2003
- Locale
- Great Britain
France
- Contents
-
1. Context of exile: communities, circumstances and choices
Gaullist legacy
Communities and circumstances
Piecing together the fragments
Tentative conclusions
2. Misfortune of exile: refugees
Preparing to receive
Arriving: 'We of this country with to offer you our great sympathy'
Late arrivals: The Royal Victoria Patriotic School
Les pauvres types
Catering for the refugees
Travail, famille, patrie: the everyday life of refugees
3. Conflict of exile: servicemen
Arriving: Narvik, Dunkirk, Compiegne and Oran
Counting heads: les effectifs
At the races: life in the camps
Randolph Hotel, Oxford: a polite exile
Recruiting and proselytising
Repatriation
- Notes
-
Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-291) and index.
1. Context of exile: communities, circumstances and choices -- Gaullist legacy -- Communities and circumstances -- Piecing together the fragments -- Tentative conclusions -- 2. Misfortune of exile: refugees -- Preparing to receive -- Arriving: 'We of this country with to offer you our great sympathy' -- Late arrivals: The Royal Victoria Patriotic School -- Les pauvres types -- Catering for the refugees -- Travail, famille, patrie: the everyday life of refugees -- 3. Conflict of exile: servicemen -- Arriving: Narvik, Dunkirk, Compiegne and Oran -- Counting heads: les effectifs -- At the races: life in the camps -- Randolph Hotel, Oxford: a polite exile -- Recruiting and proselytising -- Repatriation
