When Paris Went Dark: The City of Light under German Occupation, 1940-1944
On June 14, 1940, German tanks entered a silent and deserted Paris. Parisians were stunned, humiliated, yet curious; the Germans too were curious, wondering how to treat a city that had shown not a trace of resistance.
Amherst College professor Ronald C. Rosbottom will explore how, beneath the bustle of a newly configured daily urban life, resistance and accommodation took a myriad of forms.
Weaving a rich tapestry of stories that describe this era from the pavement up, Rosbottom will bring his audience from the first days of the Occupation though to the last, evoking the detail of daily life in wartime Paris under military and civilian occupation, and the brave people who fought against it.
He will also examine how the French have formulated the ethical strategies needed to soften some of the guilt they still feel for their government’s actions during these, dark years.
6:00pm: Wine Reception
6:30pm: Lecture
Cost: Free for members; $25 for guests
Fees for this event will be billed to the member’s account.
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