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1942, 2002: The darkest days of Paris’ history
Sarah’s Key
What you need to know before your trail
Paris, July 1942. Sarah, a ten year-old Jewish girl, is arrested by the French police in the middle of the night, along with her mother and father. Desperate to protect her younger brother, she locks him in a cupboard and promises to come back for him as soon as she can.
Paris, May 2002. Julia Jarmond, an American journalist, is asked to write about the 60th anniversary of the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup – the infamous day in 1942 when French police rounded up thousands of Jewish men, women and children, in order to send them to concentration camps.
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Paris – Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup 1942
This was the infamous day in 1942 when French police rounded up thousands of Jewish men, women and children, in order to send them to concentration camps.
The name “Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup” is derived from the nickname of the Vélodrome d’Hiver (“Winter Velodrome”), a bicycle velodrome and stadium where a majority of the victims were temporarily confined. The French police carried out several of these roundups which was aimed at eradicating the Jerwish population.
During the time they were held at the Vélodrome d’Hiver, they were in extremely crowded conditions,had little to no food and water and no sanitary facilities, before being transported to Auschwitz.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: Sarah’s Key
Destination: Paris Author/guide: Tatiana de Rosnay Departure: 1942, 2002
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