Vel D'Hiv

Velodrome D'hiver

  So since my book is about the Vel D'Hiv I figured it would be a good idea to actually learn more about this and what and where it happen. The book does give me some historical facts but because it's historical fiction it is more about a story then details with facts. But this is so far what I have learned from the book: it was a giant roundup of Jewish families in Paris France, and took place in July 1942. The Jewish families were kept in the Velodrome d'hiver (Vel d'hiv) for days before being transported to concentration camps; almost all did not return.

   Now during this time in 1942 the people most in danger were the men and fathers in Jewish families. Most of the men went into hiding to avoid being taken away by Nazis and sent to concentration camps. During this roundup on July 16th and 17th 1942 however, everyone was taken; women, children and babies included. It is estimated that just over 4000 children were taken in this event. Despite what many French people at the time believed, the ones who were involved and making arrests were the French Police, making this events one of the darkest in French history. Families were arrested from their homes in the middle of the night and taken to the Velodrome d'hiver; an indoor cycle track used for many sporting and entertainment events at the time. This operation was called "Operation Spring Breeze" and over 12,000 Jews were arrested and kept in this stadium. The Jewish people were held for over five or six days with horrible living conditions. The way "The Girl" describes it in the book is them having little food and water, no place to go the bathroom, no where to bathe, and constant heat and smell. Only a few doctors and nurses were allowed to enter and because of this many died while being held. After staying at the Velodrome they were transported to concentration camps like the Drancy Transit Camp, and the women children and men were all separated. Those who survived were eventually transported to the Auschwitz extermination camp.  Very few survived this horrific event and because of it's brutality it is a dark mark on the French history.