With the historian and speleologist Laurent Dujardin, I've been rediscovering around Caen (Normandy, France) underground caves in which thousands of civilians took shelter for weeks from one of the heaviest Allied bombings of World War II. After studying and photographying the sites, we met several witnesses of this story. They accepted to go back with us to their shelters for the first time since 65 years.
On the walls of one quarry, some graffitis written by the refugees the day of their liberation
6th of June 1944, the Normandy Landing
Located 10 km from the coast, Caen was a vital objective for the allied forces. The Battle for the town will dure from June to August.
During this battle, the old city of Caen, with many buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, was largely destroyed by Allied bombing and the fighting.
The most part of the population had to leave the town in dramatic circumstances.
For several weeks, thousands of them took shelter in the old underground Caen stone quarries.
At the time, the story was told in the French newspapers.
Shocked, the british photographers make an underground reportage.
The reportage was published in the british magazin "Illustrated" in August 1944. Madame Trolez, 18 years old at the time, was the young woman with the mirror.
Mr Mangnan was 7 years old in 1944. His older brother has felt in the entrance pit of the quarry where they were shelterd and died.
Mme Goukovitch was in Caen too. Her husband was sheltered in a quarry.
65 years later, Mr and Mrs Trolez come back to the subterranean place.
Mr and Mrs Goukovitch on the path to acced to the old quarries.
In the stairs of the Ice hole.
An exit from the quarry used by the refugees in 1944.
Mrs Trolez is arriving to the place were she was shelterd.
Mr Mangnan near the place were he lived dramatic moments.
Mr and Mrs Goukovitch.
Mrs Trolez.
Mr Mangnan.
Mr Goukovitch.
Mrs Trolez discovers objets which could have been used by the refugees.
Laurent Dujardin, Historian, has done the archeological study of the sites.
Many objets are almost intact since 1944 : here a camp bed.
The tricycle.
The religion was very important for the refugees.
This suture thread in a steril blister shows the urgency medecine during the battle.
Many shoes are found underground. They have been maybe left by the refugees because of an evacuation by German soldiers who used the quarries as well.
This disc has been found where the witnesses have seen german soldiers listening bavarian songs on a phonograph.
Sometimes, the paper has been preserved, like this colouring album.