The Sorrow and the Pity Page #5

following these German troops,

and assumed it was the English.

So they were going one way,

and I was going the other.

I saw the swastikas on their helmets,

and I thought I should go no further.

But no one asked me to stop.

Everyone was too busy

going their own way.

If I didn't like it, tough.

The Resistance in Clermont

was quickly crushed.

But the struggle,

albeit subdued, continued.

Hitler's S.S. division

conquered Clermont-Ferrand.

German troops occupied

the city for three days.

Zepp Dietrich, division commander,

declared victory on Jaude Square,

as his troops polished their boots

in front of the locals,

before heading off to new victories.

The Germans didn't return

to Clermont until November 1942.

Our aim now is to take

the arms depot in Etienne.

n entire infantry regiment has

simply surrendered.

t first, I did the same as everyone.

I hadn't understood.

On the morning of June 24,

the lieutenant declared that

Marshal Ptain had requested an armistice.

I knew what he meant by armistice,

but I wasn't sure about "Marshal."

I was never particularly

in favor of Ptain's regime.

Nonetheless,

like the other 40,000,000 Frenchmen

who experienced that same moment,

when I saw the rout, when I saw

that the Germans were in Biarritz,

and that France had been

completely invaded,

I thought, like everyone else,

"Will anyone be able

to end this massacre?"

People of France, as requested

by the President of the Republic,

I shall henceforth be the leader

of the French government.

Convinced of the affection

of our admirable army,

whose heroism stands as testimony

to our long military tradition

as they fight an enemy

which outnumbers them,

convinced that our army's resistance

has fulfilled our duty towards our allies,

convinced of the support

pledged by the former soldiers I led,

convinced of the French people's

faith in me,

I give France the gift of myself,

to ease its troubles.

In these difficult times,

I think of the poor refugees,

who, in the depths of despair,

trudge across our roads.

I extend my compassion

and concern for them.

My heart is heavy as I tell you today

that the fight must end.

Last night, I spoke with our adversary

and asked if they were prepared

to help me, between soldiers,

after the fight, with honor intact,

to find a way to end the hostilities.

From the Fhrer headquarters

a historical piece of news:

The prime minister

of the new French government, Ptain

has declared,

in a broadcast to the French people,

that France should lay down its arms.

Of course, I was happy to hear we'd won.

The defeat gave me the same feeling

I would get when I played rugby.

I don't like losing,

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