Francofonia Page #2

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creeps without any great haste.

Paris is now an open city.

Yet someone knew

it would turn out this way.

How many more are to come?

Yes, they're neighbors, we know them,

but we weren't expecting them,

didn't invite them.

An armistice is signed

between Germany and France.

But how will the victor behave

on taking command

of the center of world culture?

Germany is a complex

and many-faceted invader.

The French need to get used

to a powerful and diplomatic enemy.

The military immediately settles in Paris.

The troops are careful but confident.

Yes, they trained, but they didn't expect

such an easy victory!

In its own fashion, the German army

tries to reanimate life in Paris.

Here their tribunal is commencing work.

Not all young French citizens

accept the new laws.

Since you are in Paris,

why not play something?

The audience is grateful.

Many thousand French citizens

follow their government

by fleeing to the south.

These include huge amounts

of civil servants from the French capital.

The home of the French

national treasure, the Louvre,

was probably the first to be visited

by German forces.

Take four.

And were we to imagine

how this took place,

might it have been like this?

We're looking for Director

Jaujard's office, can you help us?

Count Wolff Metternich.

He's a representative

of the German command

and is here to inspect the Louvre.

Jacques Jaujard?

- Yes.

May I introduce Count Wolff Metternich?

Jacques Jaujard, a senior French official,

director of the Louvre

and all national museums in France.

If you'd care to follow me...

Please wait here for me, I will call you.

Very modest.

Very modest.

Please be seated...

Then I'll sit down here...

Hlne, Hlne...

bring us some coffee, please.

M. Jaujard,

you are the first high-ranking

French civil servant I meet at his post.

I must inform you

that I represent the head

of the military administration in Paris

and its significant department,

the Kunstschutz.

Our mission

is to preserve art collections,

museums and historic monuments

in France and Europe.

Here is my calling card.

Would you kindly inform me

as to the current state of the museum?

Well?

Yes.

You'll find all the relevant information

in this folder.

Thank you.

So...

It's all there.

It's all there.

Are the curators showing much solidarity?

They are.

Do you speak German?

No, I am very French.

The Count is 46 years old.

His interlocutor is 44.

Jaujard volunteered for the front

in the First World War,

where he caught TB and was discharged.

His father died on the front.

Count Metternich was in active service

in the German Army

throughout the duration

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