My parents told us about their deportation, particularly after my father’s first trip to Sachsenhausen (1962).

In 1970, together with my mother and my sister, I took part in the commemoration of the liberation of Ravensbrück camp. I made the second trip with my younger brother and a group of children of deportees in 1972.

From 1976, I helped my parents, who were involved in the regional and then national associations of Ravensbrück and Sachsenhausen.

Since 1990, I have been personally engaged in the associations of Ravensbrück and Neuengamme, especially in organizing “pilgrimages.” I have been alone for twenty years.

After accompanying Simone Gournay at CIR meetings, I became a full member in 2017 and deputy treasurer in 2018 of the International Committee of Ravensbrück – Amicale Française de Ravensbrück – Amicale Française de Neuengamme.

My parents: Odette METAIS MARCHELIDON

April 22, 1944: imprisoned in Ravensbrück concentration camp (coming from Paris) Prisoner number: 35,253, according to the Nazi regime’s categories: “polit.” (= “political”)

September 1, 1944: deported to Flossenbürg concentration camp / Holleischen Kommando, prisoner number: 50,736 – liberated on May 5, 1945

Lucien MARCHELIDON

June 7, 1944: imprisoned in Neuengamme concentration camp Prisoner number: 33,771

July 1, 1944: deported to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, prisoner number: 84,718

René MARCHELIDON, my father’s brother, prisoner numbers 33,772 and 84,719, followed the same path as Lucien until his death in Sachsenhausen on December 16, 1944.