Follow
CASERNE AUVARE
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
This project is created to include profiles of people who were interned in the former barracks known as "caserne Auvare" in Nice, France, before transfer to camps - mainly Drancy but also Rivesaltes - prior generally to further deportation to death camps such as Auschwitz.
Information courtesy of various sources, including the following:
https://www.ajpn.org/internement-Caserne-Auvard-465.html
History
During the summer of 1942, the "Caserne Auvare" - Auvare barracks - in Nice, France, became the antechamber of the deportation.
After pledging to deliver 10,000 foreign Jews from the unoccupied zone, the French government organized the deportation, issuing specific instructions to the prefects. The Auvare barracks were chosen to assemble the Jews, between their arrest and their transfer to the occupied zone.
The Prefect informed Vichy on July 31, 1942, that the Auvare barracks were made available for "the gathering of around 3,000 individuals", their surveillance being carried out by the Gendarmerie.
After the roundup of August 26, 1942, organized in the department on the initiative of the French police, the prefect reported 510 Jews arrested. They were to be handed over to the Gestapo after being regrouped at the Auvare barracks.
On August 31, a train took 557 Jews, including about twenty children living in the Alpes-Maritimes, the Basses-Alpes and Monaco, from the Saint-Roch station to Drancy, from where they were deported to Auschwitz.
3% of them survived.
On the outside wall there is a commemorative plaque.
A memorial has also recently been erected on the castle hill in Nice, next to the entrance to the Jewish cemetery there. It bears the names of those who were deported from the area to concentration camps. https://www.fondationshoah.org/en/node/49370
Inauguration: Thursday January 30, 2020, at 12 noon on the hill of the Castle, Nice
Text
In Nice, a new memorial was built: the wall of the names of Jews rounded up on the French Riviera and deported from Nice to the death camps, where most were murdered.
This wall includes 3,602 first and last names, and, for children under 18, their age. It is accompanied by an introductory and historical text by Serge Klarsfeld explaining the context of the persecution of Jews in this region. Erected on Castle Hill, the monument leans against one of the exterior walls of the oldest Jewish cemetery in Nice, near the monument stone honoring the Righteous Among the Nations. It is part of the memorial trail that already exists on a very busy site on the Baie des Anges.
Supported by the French Committee for Yad Vashem and the City of Nice, this project received support from the Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah.
Book about this:
Rafles Nice 1942-1944
Auteur: Jean-Luc GUILLET
Préface: Serge KLARSFELD
Maison d'édition: Baie des Anges, mai 2013, ISBN # 978-2-917790-54-0
A particularly valuable website to be found here (sadly only in French): http://niceoccupation.free.fr/rafle-daout-1942.html
Archives of documents relating to this era are freely accessible here: http://www.basesdocumentaires-cg06.fr/os-html/adam/home.html
Not easy to navigate. Very mixed categories. Takes an inordinate time to view single pages. Some pointers will be provided in the nearish future ...
Some precious details also courtesy of "Un Homme en Guerre - Voyage avec Bernard FALL*" by Hervé GAYMARD, èditions des Equateurs, octobre 2019, ISBN: 979-2-84990-666-8
Translated from original French into English by pip
"Anna (FALL, née SELIGMANN) and Lisette are detained with more than 500 of their co-religionists, two hundred and seven men and three hundred and three women and children, in the Caserne Auvare, which has been arranged in the most basic way. The divisional commander of the General Information Services is not of this opinion however: "the venue is spacious and well ventilated. The Israelites are lodged in dormitories of between forty and sixty people. The men are separated from the women, and the latter include those taking care of any children under eight years old. Food is sufficiently abundant and brings satisfaction to the internees." Indeed. Straw has been roughly scattered over a concrete floor, the "dormitories" are, in fact, rooms without any proper beds, it is baking hot, and the children and adults are held in this morass for days on end. That is, until the day of departure. All are aware that one day they would leave, but when, and to go where, and what would become of them? This attitude is confirmed by the same report of the General Information Services, dated 27 August. "the interested parties show, on the whole, resignation mixed with a strong sense of dread. They fear what they consider probably certain - that they will be handed over to the German authorities. Very strict supervision over them is exercised in order to prevent any potential desperate act. (...) One detainee was caught in the process of trying to slit the veins of his wrists with a razor blade". In these conditions little Lisette refuses to eat and remains in a permanent position of gripping her mother's legs.
While these poor people are caught in a state of anguish and foreboding, the administrative machine continues to roll on. The Prefect praises his subordinates, even though the "yield" of the arrests is less than half of the given objectives, whether due to a lack of zeal on the part of those carrying out the orders and because many Jews managed to hide, facts which don't fail to be castigated by the collaborationist press. The Red Cross, requisitioned medical personnel, locksmiths, catering suppliers, wholesale grocers, transport firms, notably that of the Chief of the Militia, Joseph Darnand, all present their bills for payment. A delegation of credits to the amount of 185, 000 francs is addressed to Vichy. On 30th. August a telephone tapping report adds to the overwhelming state of affairs: "hygienic buckets are to be purchased as soon as possible as they will be placed in goods wagons and won't be allowed out." Nevertheless, on this manure a few flowers do grow. Already on 27 August the General Information Services attest that the majority of the local population has been profoundly shocked by this operation. A fervent supporter of Maréchal Pétain wrote to the Prefect urging him to free the Jewish prisoners. Doctor Georges MAZET, whose practice was situated at Nr. 4, rue d'Angleterre, multiplied the number of medical certificates in the hope of enabling some of his patients to avoid a fateful destiny. Both the pastoral letter of 23 August written by Mgr. SALIÉGE of Toulouse as well as a declaration made by Cardinal GERLIER on 6 September condemn the razzias, and start provoking an increasing echo which troubles the prefect. "Jews are men, Jews are women (...) it's not just anything and everything that can be permitted against them, against these men, against these women, against these fathers and mothers of families. They are all part of the human race. They are all our brothers like many others. A Christian can't forget that." But, whatever the spiritual elevation and the moral resistance, the relentless machinery continues to grind on, charged by the driving force of the lowest instincts. The terrible antisemitic frenzy of informers and collaborators enable the police to proceed with a further fifty or so arrests in clinics, hotel basements or in farms in surrounding areas. For now, it is necessary to eliminate this "concentration of Israelites" and hand them over to the Nazis. On 31 August a decree from the State Coucillor, the regional Prefect: "requires the S.N.C.F. (French State Railways) to provide transport between Nice and Le Bourget-Drancy consisting of four passenger wagons, 24 covered goods wagons, for a special train divided as follows: escort, 153; men, 274; women, 281; children under the age of ten, 5."
A few moments before the departure from the St.Roch train station (in Nice) the authorities inform parents that they may leave their children aged under eighteen. They simply have to sign a piece of paper. Can one imagine what pangs of emotions these parents must have suffered, not knowing where they were going, even if an official report issued by the General Information Services had attributed "Anglo-French propaganda as being the cause of a rumour about deportation to Poland"?. As far as her daughter can recall, Anna didn't hesitate long. She told her: "You must find your brother". Lisette grasped onto her mother's legs. It took three police officers to separate the two of them amidst cries and tears. Anna saved her child from certain death and she, herself, went on to her destiny.
At 5.45 on 31 August the train starts moving. At the La Blancarde station, near Marseille, an eye-witness account describes: "32 wagons of which 29 are goods wagons, set up in the most basic fashion, and 3 third-class wagons. 30 deportees in each wagon, guarded by armed police officers, women and men separated. Medical services provided in a regular type of train compartment by 3 Red Cross nurses, who were in a state of despair ... (...). During halts at stations on the way the doors and any windows of the wagons are opened ... The faces are pitiful to see and the stench is ghastly. The unfortunate souls throw themselves onto our water and provisions ... but not a cry, not a complaint to be heard. Their countenances alone are tense and ravaged, their eyes filled with tears testifying to the suffering endured ... one woman wants to toss her child out of the door to us, entrusting it to our care." The convoy makes a stop at Chalon-sur-Saône at 21.50. The bureaucracy had made arrangements, by means of a telegram sent on 26 August from Vichy, that the hygienic buckets and bowls were to remain in the Free Zone. The train arrived at Drancy on 1 September at 7.05. Anna was placed on convoy Nr. 27 for Auschwitz on 2 September. Her name appears on the listing of those being transferred. On 5 March 1996, Lisette FALL-BIRET LEVY submits a Page of Testimony to the memorial of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for Anna, née SELIGMANN. On that day she must have reverted once more to being that helpless little girl who wept in the Caserne Auvare on the afternoon of the 30 August 1942."
Possibly also viewable - at least in parts - here:
Un homme en guerre - Hervé Gaymard - Google Books
https://books.google.de/books?id=tkSvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT85&lpg=PT85&dq=d...
...
21 April 2022
Having just reached a halfway mark - 276 individuals of the 552 listed as deportees following the "rafles d'août" -
this seems a good time to add a few notes.
It is proving particularly challenging to identify these people. In both the very basic initial lists prepared at departure from Nice to Drancy and the otherwise extremely valuable more detailed lists in the Memorial de la Shoah database, often the names are misspelled - sometimes so unrecognisably that it is (almost) impossible to match them with any appearing in other archives, Jewish IKG town records, Holocaust victim lists, etc.
In addition, unfortunately, relatively frequently, there are no details of date and/or place of birth for many of them.
In occasional cases such information can be gleaned from precise and accurate data offered by Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony - especially the personal ones submitted by close or far members of the family, friends, colleagues, even simply caring neighbours (though there can be errors here too).
The aim was/is not only to identify the "names on the lists" but to attempt to attach them to their respective families, inevitably involving further laborious and time-consuming research. Luckily this was achievable in many instances but where it was not, a separate branch was set up in the hope that some day someone might manage to connect this with the big tree ...
THANKS to all those managers of profiles who granted the request to attach a person to this project. Out of many dozens, only one so far has not responded positively despite repeated appeals:
Hans Philipp
Should be added here ... and hope remains that he will be eventually remembered amongst the others who suffered this fate ...
...
27 March 2025
Since the last posting of extra notes here well over a hundred more profiles could be added to this project but there is still over a hundred to go … and, unfortunately, identification of individuals is proving increasingly impossible. Even when the correct spelling of their names can be determined and also their basic data of DOB & POB it is too often insufficient to be able to attach them to their respective families and so far, the placing of totally isolated single individuals has been avoided here.
Any input from others would be most welcome!
And, indeed, any further details or anecdotes about the circumstances relating to the round-ups in the Caserne Auvare – particularly first-hand accounts – much appreciated. For example, here follows an opening extract of an account by a survivor which was kindly shared directly by the granddaughter of the compassionate and courageous Polish rail engineer who helped him and a companion escape from a labour camp “just-a-stop-or-so-before Auschwitz”. The whole text of his original witness statement – translated into English from French - may be viewed under “Documents”.
25 March 1944 circa – Testimonial of Ignacy HONIG:
“On August 22, 1942, there was a major round-up in France. At that time I was in Nice. The rumours of this razzia had already reached us a few days beforehand and all those who could left for Monaco. The fact is, we believed that there would be no raids in Monaco because it is a Principality. Indeed, round-ups were raging throughout France except on the Côte d'Azur. So for a few days we felt at ease and the Palace of Monaco gave assurances that nothing would happen to us in the city. People already in Monaco therefore continued to stay without any qualms in its various hotels while newcomers flocked in from the Nice region and from Nice itself to take refuge there. But this situation didn't last. A few days later the police of Monaco conducted raids and rounded up Jews from all the hotels at around three o'clock at night. They took everyone they could lay their hands on, without making a distinction between men, women and children. Unfortunately, 99% of people were arrested. We asked the Chief of Police why he had gone back on his word after promising us our continued freedom, to which he simply replied that it was an order from Hitler. That same night, he handed us over to the French police who transported us to the barracks in Nice. On our arrival we met people who had already been there for a few days and among whom were children, women, elderly folk and some sick people who had been rounded up in hospitals. Even from inside the barracks, several of the detainees contacted the police to find out what their fate would be and they were told that they would be remaining in France, though obviously in a camp. However, according to other sources, we became increasingly convinced that this was a lie and that we would be leaving for Germany. We weren't wrong. A day before departure, the International Red Cross got in touch with the Chief of Police and obtained a concession that all the mothers could arrange for the release of their children at least. There were a few brave mothers who did, but most kept their kids, which everyone will understand. Anyone who has not heard the farewells of separated children, has heard nothing at all. It was horrible to see and especially awful to hear. The children and their mothers were screaming, crying, embracing each other. It was a veritable disaster.
The next day we left Nice...towards the unknown...we were transported in cattle cars, accompanied by a very brutal mobile guard unit. In these wagons we found a large reserve of provisions which the Comité d'Entr'aide aux Israélites (Jewish Committee for Mutual Aid) had sent us, which proved to us that we were going to take a long journey. The distribution was arranged for there to be 50 individuals per wagon plus luggage and children. And so it was that we travelled to a first stop at Marseille where some delegates from the U.G.I.F. (Union Générale des Israélites de France /General Union of Jews in France) were waiting for us with food and portable torches. (I forgot to say that the wagons were locked up from the outside). But they couldn't talk to us, because this was strictly forbidden by the French police. We were also not allowed to leave our wagons at all and if someone had to relieve themselves then that just had to be done there and then. From Marseille we headed to Lyon. No one was waiting for us there! But I, personally happened to catch sight of a Rabbi who was hiding behind a pillar. When I asked him if he might know where we were going, he started to weep and replied: "My poor children! It's not me who can tell you that." At this moment the Commissioner of Police arrived and chased him away brutally. The train no longer stopped before the demarcation line. From there, the train took us directly to the Drancy camp. Several thousand people were already there and expected to be deported every day, as many had already left before them.
We immediately had a terrible impression of a living cemetery; firstly the food was awful - only soup - secondly, just seeing the French guard with submachine guns turned our stomachs. There were a total of 4 toilets for nearly 10,000 people. Needless to describe their cleanliness and that of the stairs.
We learned that we were going to Poland. It was then that an elderly lady threw herself from a building. She died immediately. It was not the first time such an incident happened, but it was the only one I saw. Day after day convoys of people arrived, day after day they left ...”