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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
© 1972, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation
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I foresaw that there would be no test of strength
with the Munich court now that the delegation had become so biased, we –
Mme. Benguigui and I – would have to deliver the necessary blow.
I
became even more determined when I received a letter of encouragement from
Laure Moulin, sister of Resistance leader Jean Moulin. She wrote:
I don't know how to express my admiration
for your unwavering courage in fighting for your country's acknowledgment of
its mistakes and of the crimes the Nazis committed, and for sentencing them
once and for all.
As I told you over the telephone, I cannot go with
you to Munich this month because of my uncertain health, but I want to assure
you that I entirely approve of your demonstration. Like you I strongly protest
the shameful indulgence German courts, particularly the Munich court, have
shown toward Nazi war criminals and toward that abominable Barbie who committed
so many atrocities and murders in Lyon from 1942 to 1944.
I hold him
personally responsible for the death of my brother Jean Moulin, whom he so
maltreated and tortured that he was almost dead by the time Barbie shipped him
to Paris on orders from his superiors. Consequently I am wholly and sincerely
with you and with all Frenchmen and Germans who support your plan of action.
On Sunday, September 12, the day before the delegation was to
leave, I returned to Lyon. That same evening Serge was to put Mme. Benguigui
and M. Halaunbrenner on the train for Munich. The LICA was paying their
expenses.
Dr. Dugoujon put me up at his house in Caluire, and we had
dinner with Lucie Aubrac, the wife of Resistance fighter Raymond Aubrac, who
had been arrested and tortured by Barbie at the same time as Jean Moulin. In
spite of all I had been through during the past years, I was astonished when
Dr. Dugoujon told me:
"Tomorrow you may not go with the delegation to
the court in Munich. You must understand our position. The Foreign Minister has
asked us not to disturb Franco-German relations in any way, and to behave with
dignity and propriety. He has given us to understand that in order to obtain
results we should not strike hard, but rather use a diplomatic approach. Also,
one of the delegation is the wife of a high official in an international
organization who has to be very careful what he does in that capacity, and he
has requested that you do not go to court. I am sorry to have to upset you so,
for it was you who got everything going."
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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
© 1972, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation |
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Page 236 |
Forward |
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