The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál
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of a war interesting rather on civil défense (circulation times, lights out).<strong>The</strong>re is<br />
only one article in the department which deals with communist’s condamnation<br />
dated from the 3th of September. It relates several arrests of communists in<br />
Boucau, Anglet or Bayonne for illegal propaganda on the territory and more<br />
particulary on Gurs’s camp. This is what is called „communist purge” 3 .<br />
We can futhermore note that the Prefect of Basses Pyrénées ordered to<br />
confiscate and to cut all the copies of the communist newspaper from the<br />
30/08 4 . We can add that at the same time, communist propaganda is<br />
systematicaly repressed. For example, the 28/08/1939, Hendaye’s policemen<br />
slashed five posters requiring „a front of peace with URSS”, posted in the city<br />
by the French association of URSS friends coming from Paris. 5 <strong>The</strong> censorship<br />
goes increasing to reach essentially communist camp.<br />
Pyrénéens communists are beyond by the <strong>Pact</strong> but they go on defending<br />
their idol and chief Staline. However, many youngs communists of Biarritz’s<br />
section have been very surprised by the non aggression <strong>Pact</strong> between Staline<br />
and Hitler and have thrown their badge as a symbol. 6 In the Basses Pyrénées,<br />
the administration have to run not only French communists but also the<br />
propaganda of Spanish communists who are refuged in the departemnt or coop<br />
up in the Gurs’ camp until the phenomenon called „la retirada”. 7<br />
For a few mounths, international relationships make debate between the different<br />
political parties present in the departement. On july, the opposition between<br />
Communist Party which has its head office in Boucau and the fascist French popular<br />
party, appears during a conference at Oloron Sainte Marie. One of the participant in<br />
favor of an alliance between France, England and URSS accuses „Mister Hitler has<br />
taken advantage of French division to occupy Rhenanie”. An other declares that<br />
France and England don’t give to URSS any guarantees in case of an attack and<br />
claims that the PSF (extremist party) apply a policy of treason to France.<br />
After the 23/08, Communist party of Basses Pyrénées carries on a<br />
propaganda to support Staline, posters are multipying : „Nothing is possible<br />
whithout URSS”, „Get together”, „French politicians make Nazis game”. With<br />
the announcement of the pact, communists pamphlets try to explain to the<br />
community Staline’s gesture, position.<br />
3 Article of the third of september in 1939 published in the Patriote of Pyrénées, relating the<br />
arrests of 12 communists to have carry communists and anti-governmental tracts.<br />
4 Main city of department act coming from the Prefect of Basses Pyrénées adressed to Pau’s<br />
police superintendent and to the special superintendant in charge of Gurs’camp supervision.<br />
Source: main city department act, départemental archives of Pau: collection M; 1M80.<br />
5 Main city of department act coming from Hendaye’s police station for Basses Pyénées<br />
prefect. Source: main city department act, départemental archives of Pau: collection M; 1M80.<br />
6 Basses Pyrénées’prefect’s mail to Ministry. Source: main city of department act; collection<br />
M; departmental archives of PAU; 1M78.<br />
7 „La Retirada”: phenomenon whitch beguns in january and february in 1939 since General<br />
Franco’s seizure of power in Spain. Many political refugees came to France, more particulary in<br />
Basses Pyrénées, located on the border of both countries. It will lead to the building of refugees<br />
camp in the region. <strong>The</strong> first is the Gurs’one.<br />
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