Key Words
Transylvanie; Debrecen; Bologna; New York; Paris;
Zurich; Mulhouse; camp Barcar�s, near Spanish border; L�gion �trang�re; La Vallebonne,
a Foreign Legion camp; Drancy; Compi�gne; bakery in Frankfurt; New York; Montreal.
Abstract
Family origins; schooling in Debrecen;
apprenticeship in father's bakery; university baccalaureate; rising antisemitism; effect
of depression (1930) on family business; siblings leave for America; studies briefly in
Bologna; remaining family emigrates to Paris; economic difficulties caused by lack of
residence permits and language; short-term illegal jobs between periods of unemployment
punctuated by a series of love affairs; in September 1938 he returned to Debrecen in
response to his call-up notice for military service which to his surprise was postponed
due to the crisis situation in Central Europe; when he was called again he had organized
reasons for a medical discharge that he received after three weeks in uniform; efforts to
return to France via Zurich; arrested while crossing the border and jailed in Mulhouse;
declaration of war was followed by an offer of residence to those who volunteered to serve
in the French army - which he accepted; inducted into the Foreign Legion and sent to camp
Barcar�s; transfer to La Vallebonne; again succeeds in getting a medical discharge in
April 1940; German occupation of Paris; round-up and internment in Drancy; transfer to
Compi�gne; liberated in 1942 on the basis of Hungary being an ally; evading new round-ups
made life increasingly difficult; decided to present himself at a recruitment bureau for
voluntary labour in Germany; succeeded in being accepted for bakery work in Frankfurt; the
bombardments by the allies; return to Paris; the risks of illegal living; liberation;
marriage; naturalization; Became proficient as fur cutter; U.S. visa arrived and he went
alone to explore the possibilities in New York; disappointed return to France; December
1951 left with family for Canada via New York; 1952 arrival in Canada; establishment in
the fur business; records the major events in the family, in his work, until retirement;
then this memoir was written in 1982-1983.