Izon-la-Bruisse

Izon-la-Bruisse is a common French, located in the department of the Drome and the area the Rhone-Alps.

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February 1944 Testimony on shot of Izon Bruisse, by an survivor

Snow, cold. Maquis VENTOUX is in its fifteenth month of bivouac through three departments: Vaucluse, Drome and the Low-Alps. The Staff, ordered by Colonel BEYNE, has been fixed for a few days at SEDERON. The four sections which compose it - MAQUIS VENTOUX are disseminated with mountainside, around IZON-LA-BRUISSE, abandoned small village of Drome. Camp MONTEAU is in bottom of the defense system, on a kind of false plain, not far from EYGALAYES. It is ordered by HAUTEMER. By a way tormented, climbing with mountainside, randomly crossed falls of rocks, one passes then in front of, camp KOENIG, ordered by MARCHAL and, finally, a succession of laces, one rises to a small plate where draws up the school and the vault of IZON, as well as a sheep-fold; at the school, the 3rd section is which, at the same time, is the PC of Company ordered by MISTRAL. By a way of goats, one reaches the peak of the mountain and the Forest House where the 4th section ordered by VERRET is. February 21st, 1944 The joy reigns with the camp After months and months of deprivations and from indigence, we go, for once, to eat with our hunger. Each section, after one SEWS hand with Boxwood-the-BARONNIES, has just received a pig for its supply. Tomorrow, it is FATTY TUESDAY. I belong to the section of the School and entered clandestinity in March 1943. TOUFOU, the butcher-porkbutcher of my section, business around the pig. We admire his dexterity, but also we délectons ourselves in advance of what we will eat tomorrow. To eat, to eat with our hunger, that did not arrive to us for a long time (food and the boches are our two permanent concern). The evening, by lengthening us in our " meat " bag; , we still speak mangeaille with STRAINER. We feel sorry for LOUSE, left on mission the morning; it will not take part with us in the feasts of tomorrow, February 22nd. February 22nd at Dawn: The Germans and militiamans attack the camp That pull about, appear it, since one good moment; I always sleep. A militiaman awakes me by pressing me his machine-gun on the belly: " Rise and do not make C… ". Useless to make a gesture, my Thomson machine-gun is hung above me. The militiaman pushes me out of the School” I ridge on a body, it is already the corpse of COUSTON, II fact still night; I distinguish only from the shades. I am led to the VAULT, asking me, with waked up half, which occurs. Inside the Vault, I find my comrades. There is; HOFFMANN Nathan and his/her father, LALLEMAND, STRAINER, TOUFOU, the HENAFF, JOUVE, the " DOCTOR " and our section head MISTRAL” In a word, all those of the School which were not killed yet like it faces COUSTON, or which did not succeed in escaping like Manuel LOZANO. We try to include/understand what occurred and how the Germans arrived to us and have surprised us, in spite of our guardrooms however judiciously placed at the key points of the sector. We wonder how that could be done. HOFFMANN and its father require of us not to denounce them like Jews, of fear to worsen their case. The moral one of all is very low and I try to reassure them because I am very lucid and preserves the cool head, reflective with our situation. The door opens; a S.S., escorted of two militiamans, enters and requires to speak to the section head. Everyone is keep silent. We know that MISTRAL is father whereas we others are 20 years old. I advance then and tries to explain to the S.S. which we do not have of section head and which this one lays down with the PC located out of the camp the S.S. seems to be satisfied with this explanation and leaves us again with our dark reflections. I had written a letter which I intended to forward in Ginette, my been engaged. I tear it in thousand pieces to avoid compromising that which will become my wife. I invite all my comrades to make disappear all their compromising papers (my letter will be found a few days afterwards by been engaged of STRAINER, reconstituted, stuck and transmitted to its destinatrice). Ten minutes after the departure of the S.S., the two militiamans who accompanied it open the door and ask me to leave. They lead me on the esplanade, located at midday of the building of the School; there is snow and I am barefeet. These two French militiamans, two twins I suppose because they resemble each other curiously, are made a malicious pleasure to go on my barefeet and cold, with their heavy shoes with nails. " Since you have the air indicated so well, you will say to us where is your " chief;. I try to explain what I already said, but they do not believe me and I must box the punches and of feet of the two twins. My silence besides will not be used for nothing. It is during my interrogation that I see, for the first time of the day, CYPRIEN and NOIRET. CYPRIEN and NOIRET are two comrades of combat who have disappeared for a few days. I am 'surprised to see them discussing with Officers S.S. in a friendly way, it seems to me, and I wonder it: , that they make there. I do not have time to reflect longer; I am taken back with kicks and of stick of rifle to the Vault, I find, again, my comrades and says to them that I was questioned with. Subject of the chief of camp I did not denounce MISTRAL but, a few minutes after my return, an Officer S.S. enters and calls it. Hardly this one it left that my comrades look me with funny air. I include/understand their suspicions and explains to them that I saw CYPRIEN and NOIRET discussing in a friendly way with the S.S. Me also, I start to have suspicions, but in their connection, and I inform of it my companions in misfortune. Those are enough skeptics and cannot accept a treason, especially on behalf of former companions of combat. Only the " Doctor " note; " this coincidence is strange all the same ". I learned later that MISTRAL had been cut down forthwith. We discuss, between us, of the fate which can await us. Some think that we will be sent in GERMANY; others, like HOFFMANN and the " Doctor " , are not of this opinion. myself, I do not believe in this possibility. Our chiefs always said us that, if we were taken one day, we would be regarded as franc-tireurs and are shot like such. I say it to my comrades while adding: " In any case, if we must be shot, let us try to die as men ". It is at this time that a daring idea effleure my spirit and I will regret all my life not having tried to carry out this project. It was a question of causing a kind of collective escape, at one favourable moment, a given signal. This moment arised several times in the descent on EYGALAYES. I thought that it would have surely killed there, but perhaps also of the survivors. If I did not propose this attempt with my comrades, it is that I was afraid to mislead me on what we were going to become. I have fears that those which believed in our simple deportation in Germany are right. It was, in such a case, unnecessarily to expose the life of my comrades. Following unfortunately given reason to my fears. The Germans did not intend at all to off-set us. It is now 10 hours; the militiamans, machine-gun with the fist, make us leave the Vault; while leaving, we hear a shooting coming from the peaks above the School. They are those of the FORESTIERE which tries to release us. They must stop their shooting, because the Germans make us place in front of them to be used to them as rampart. The militiamans give us the order to charge all the material with the camp in a tipcart taken with the sheep-fold, close to the school, I will know, later, that the boches invaded this farm, brutally struck the shepherd and grapeshot the herd still with the cattle shed., killing most of the ewes. I then point out with the S.S. which give us the order to charge the tipcart which we are barefeet and which we will not be able to descend the material with EYGALAYES under these conditions. The boches act in concert and authorize us to fit us, provided that we remove the laces of the shoes. Returned at the School, I do not find my shoes; I thread those of LOUSE which are however narrow for me. I also take a jacket because the weather is cold. While charging the tipcart, we can see CYPRIEN and NOIRET to discuss and joke with the Officers. If, for my part, I am already fixed on their role in this business, I hope that my comrades, 1e are also now. The tipcart is charged. Some are harnessed there. The descent on EYGALAYES will start. At this moment, I realize that a comrade, made yesterday of maquis MORVAN to make the connection between his maquis and ours, is extended on the ground. It received a ball in the foot and cannot go. I reconsider my steps and asks the S.S. if I can to carry until EYGALAYES; they accept and I charge the casualty on my back. He suffers awfully and between two moanings, he thanks me for not having left it at the school. It is a lamentable procession which is held under my eyes, in the bad snow-covered way which goes down towards the plain. I close walk, follow-up of a militiaman. A little before arriving at camp KOENIG, the militiaman orders to me to leave the casualty whom I carry " one will look after it " “I am immediately aware what will do without. My comrade also; at the moment when I lengthen it by ground, he says to me; " do not leave me ". I hesitate a few seconds, but the militiaman orders to me to leave " Insane the camp " ; I hardly circumvented the small boxwood hedge which precedes the maisonnette above camp KOENIG that I hear a gust; I know that the militiaman has just completed the comrade of maquis MORVAN. I have a presentiment of in an unquestionable way, now, which awaits us EYGALAYE and I reconsider with my project of collective escape. It is unfortunately too late; I cannot alert my comrades without waking up any more the attention of the militiamans” We are disseminated too much. I note bitterly that could have been carried out in our long descent in column on EYGALAYE. I reproach myself for having missed decision and of perspicacity! While passing in front of KOENIG, I notice a skinned tank hung with an almond tree (undoubtedly the future meal of a comrade of this camp). I also notice two bodies extended in front of the gate; they are militiamans or Germans. I would know in a few days that MARCHAL, the chief of camp KOENIG, could escape after having killed some enemy soldiers. While turning over me, I once again see CYPRIEN and NOIRET discussing with the S.S. which go down, them also, towards EYGALAYE. It will be the last time that I will see them. They had to stop before camp MONTEAU to await the end of the operations, because I did not re-examine them on the spot of the shooting We arrive at MONTEAU. The S.S. make us align in front of the building; the militiamans, weapons with the fist, are arranged on the way of EYGALAYE and supervise us. I suppose that all the enemy participants in this attack are there. There are at least 200 S.S. and militiamans. They charged our material on two trucks and emptied the farm of the supply which was there. The chief of the detachment, an officer S, S., gives German orders and discusses with his officers. An Alsacien young person, which I do not remember any more the name, beside me and is progressively translated the snatches of conversation which reach us; that does not teach us anything on our fate. They speak women and let us gueuletons. They joke between them. I wonder how they can have the heart to joke, by knowing what they will do in a few minutes, because I have inward conviction that we will be shot and that we live our last moments. Under pretext of question us, the militiamans excavate us and make control on all that can have value: Signet rings, alliances, watches, money. It is one of the twins of the morning which excavates me. After having taken my watch " you do not need any more " , it finds on me a photograph of a former comrade of the S.U.P. of AIX IN PROVENCE. " , You hold know CASANOVA? " ask me it " Yes, it is a classmate " ; he adds " I know it well, me also ". I benefit from this common knowledge to try to question him on our fate” As an answer, I receive a blow of stick and a " your mouth, dog! ". Thus, these Masters will not show it to make a pact with the " Terrorists ". Thus, our fate it is already decided. The boches charged all our material and wait! … It is approximately 13 hours. A militiaman comes to seek the four first of our file. It is those which are side of EYGALAYES. I am myself at the other end of the column. They leave behind the building, We do not see what occurs. We hear a first gust of machine-gun, then a second. The four shot first of IZON have just been shot down. The first killer, his completed work, returns and it is another which takes delivery of the four following victims, always on the basis of the side of EYGALAYES. It leads them behind the firm MONTEAU, while passing by the West of the farm, whereas the first passed by the East. They will alternate this manner until the last four, i.e., " The Doctor " , a young person of Saint-Auban, myself and a fourth of which I remember any more, alas, neither the name nor the face. It is our turn. We know what awaits us; the gusts of machine-guns the complaints of our comrades built us on what occurs behind the farm. A militiaman who leads us to the massacre, a man of forty years, makes us pass in front of him; I observe it while walking; it is not very at ease, seems to me it. I am at the head and looks on all sides to seek a possibility of escape. Arrived at the corner of the farm, I see a score of corpses; they are my comrades extended in snow. The doctor, who is behind me, understood that I want to try something. I look at last once the killer, my wide comrades; the Doctor approaches me and blows me; " It is the moment, Perrin, go ahead " , I spring and I hear my buddy STRAINER who was killed, but which did not die yet, to shout me as a good luck " Shit Roland ". This cry suits me right in the middle and gives me wings. I run right in front of me, it is pre naked and flat, without the least obstacle; there is a line of apple trees well downwards but I prefer to sink right in front of me. The shoes of LOUSE, which I cursed this morning, tighten me and are due well to my feet, in spite of the absence of laces. I hear crépiter the machine-guns and rifles I even believe to distinguish TAC TAC TAC of a machine-gun. The balls whistle around me… I have approximately 400 meters to traverse with discovered and in snow. The first moments of surprise spent, all the boches which waited until it is finished draw me like .un rabbit. I hear also shouts, orders howled in German… I perceive burstings around me. I suppose that they are grenades… I do not think of nothing, I sink, I sink… This race éperdue lasts approximately a minute. It seems to me that I will not arrive at the end of the field. My heart is beating wildly… but I am aware that .j' have the joy of feeling it to beat. By miracle, I was not touched by the hundreds of projectiles launched to my cases. Eyewitnesses of EYGALAYES allowed me to be explained why I was not touched by the gusts of the militiaman charged to kill us. According to these witnesses, and I believe firmly in this version which appears so logical to me, when I sprang, encouraged by the " Touubib " , this one had to realize that it was necessary to try to protect my escape so that a witness, at least, can tell, later, which occurred to IZON-la-BRUISSF on February 22nd, 1944. With this intention, IT RAN EXACTLY BEHIND ME, THUS PROTECTING ME FROM the FIRST GUSTS OF the KILLER, it ran making me a rampart of its body and taking all the balls until it falls. It has, appears it, held about thirty meters. I will always have a thought moved for the " Doctor, " , Jewish doctor of Polish origin, which courageously sacrificed its skin to protect my escape. I am persuaded that was its last thought; I owe him certainly the life. The same eyewitnesses said to me as my two other companions in misfortune, stimulated by my attempt when I sprang, tried them-also to save their life. 'The fourth, that of which I do not remember any more of the name, tried to leave upwards. It was. cut down whereas it was going to reach the edge of wood; he had traversed approximately 50 to 60 m." The young person of Saint-Auban left downwards, i.e. towards the way of EYGALAYE; wounded from a ball to the legs, it fell on the way. A boche, the driver of the first truck, started its machine and crushed it in spite of supplications of my comrade, who saw coming the truck on him and guessed the intention of the Nazi. Here are what it is occurred of my three comrades of the last square of shot IZON, They did not have a chance; I was the only one that it supported. I do not regard this escape in front of the group as a brilliant deed. It is only one amazing chance which enabled me to pass between the enemy balls; if I had had the smallest wound, I was lost. I return to my race éperdue. I could gain the first sleeve since I arrive at the north of EYGALAYE, with the foot of a small wall which goes down to the village. In spite of my emotion, I have the presence of mind to use a small trick, old woman like the world, to try to scramble my track; I take the direction of the village openly, then I reconsider my steps by lowering me, in the direction of the mountain. This stratagem had its utility since I knew, thereafter, that the boches initially sought me on the road in direction of SEDERON. I quickly assemble the first escarpments above EYGALAYE and passes in front of a farm. The farmer, who attended the shooting of the window of his room, fears that I do not stop at his place; I do not have the least intention of it and says to him. Here a small fact is placed which shows at which point I kept my coolness in spite of the emotions of this day; At the beginning of the school, I had taken a jacket to cover me and, during my race since the firm MONTEAU until EYGALAYES, I perspired much in spite of the cold. Now, this jacket me g6ne. After having exceeded the last farm of the village, I remove it while running and drops it, but, after having traversed a hundred meters I reflect that I leave behind me an index which will be able to make it possible to the Germans to find my track. On the other hand, if I must spend the night outside, the jacket will be very useful for me. I reconsider my steps, collects the jacket and set out again through the mountain. This moment, I regard myself as almost saved. My knowledge of the mountain and our long walks allow me, I hope for it, to outdistance my prosecutors and to melt themselves in nature. It can appear incredible that as many ideas and precautions can cross the spirit of a tracked man; it is however what occurred. The ideas turn quickly in the head in similar moment. After several comings and goings in various directions, always to sow my possible prosecutors, I arrive at BALLOON, small village of Drome. II is approximately 18 hours; the night fell; I am exténué, breathless. I have run admittedly for 1 p.m. I decide to stop to me to ask to drink and blow a little. I knock on the door of the first come house; an young woman opens to me; she is alone with two or three young children. I should not be beautiful to see because the woman moves back, frightened, and the children run to hide while crying. She seizes again herself at once and realizes immediately; " you come from over there? ". " Yes " - " You sit, I will prepare to eat and we will warn ". This simple reception touches me deeply. This woman knows that it risks death; she does not think of it and only thinks of helping one of its similar, tracked; RESISTANT. The risk of this young woman was real since I knew, thereafter, that Nazis me sought part of the night, helped by the tracker dogs. It is undoubtedly the snow which prevented the animals from finding my trace. Maddest with this hunting were, of course, CYPRIEN and NOIRET; they wanted to kill the ONLY WITNESS of their breach. If they did not hide us until the shooting, it is well because the officers S, S. had had. their to ensure that nobody could give a report on their treason. We all were to be shot down. I had, by .la continuation, to give them nightmares… If I were not escaped, they could have continued their treasons and have perhaps dismantled the resistance of all this area. It would never have been known that it was them the traitors who had led the boches until IZON, avoiding the guardrooms of the Holy Collar Jean and the firm MONTEAU, that they knew there themselves well to have assembled the guard when they were our companions of combat. Thus is explained the surrounding of the three sections, without alarm being given. It is relatively easy, in mountain, when the sector well is known, to pass to 100 or 150 meters of a guardroom without waking up the attention of the sentinels, snow choking the noise of the steps. If alarm had been given only ten minutes before the arrival of the Nazis, we would have accommodated them good manners. Our stations of alarm, indicated for a long time, on a very broken ground, our armament more than sufficient and our drive, would have enabled us to resist their attack and perhaps to even inflict very serious losses to them” We would have been exterminated all, but our comrades would have died as a combatant, and not loosely assassinated of a gust of machine-gun in the back. While I am restored, the inhabitants of BALLOON were warned. Five or six men penetrate in the house where I stopped. They bring supply, clothing to me. I announce to them that I will leave; that I spend the night in the village, they are not needed are too, dangerous for them and me. They include/understand, in spite of their desire to help me and lead me out of the village, in a forest hut in the mountain. I find-there there two Spanish who was of guard to the Collar Midsummer's Day. Those explain me why they were not worried by the boches; they did not even intend them to come; but, on the other hand, alerted by the shooting, they came to realize by climbing the solid mass which dominates the abandoned village. Impotent, they took down on BALLOON. We embrace ourselves, happy to find us alive and I explain to them in a few words, which occurred. We settle in the hut to spend the night; three inhabitants take turns to assemble the guard and to take care on our sleep. As of the rising of the day, most of the village east in front of our hut. I realize that the solicitude of these good people makes run enormous risks to everyone. It would be enough to only one inhabitant German pro to alert the Nazis. II does not have there fortunately informer with BALLOON. We decide to leave the village with fallen the night, after having thanked all these good people who helped us. I leave the Spaniards after SEDERON, taking another direction that theirs. We will meet all with maquis VENTOUX, continuing the combat against the French occupant and renegades, jusqu" with the Final victory. Some can wonder what became traitors CYPRIEN and NOIRET. CYPRIEN, child of LORIOL, close to CARPENTRAS, will be taken by the maquis and shot down. Forever found NOIRET. It has had to follow Germans in their retirement, unless it was liquidated by its Masters who made use readily of people like NOIRET and CYPRIEN, then cut down them on the first occasion. In any event, they will not have benefitted a long time from the money which they received for price of their treason. (CYPRIEN was praised, before being taken by the maquis, having touched 200.000 F.), which makes 400.000 francs for 35 corpses. Here EXACTLY what I saw, which I said, which I did, which occurred, the thoughts which agitated me during this dark day of a944 February 22nd, in IZON-la-BRUISSE (Drome). PASCAL Laurent alias Roland PERRIN Copy Report/ratio submitted to Colonel BEYNE, Chef of Maquis VENTOUX, in the month of June 1944. High

Personalities related to the commune

See too

Common of Drome

External bonds

Izon-la-Bruisse on the site of the national geographical Institute
Izon-la-Bruisse on the site of INSEE
Izon-la-Bruisse on the site of Quid
Localization of Izon-la-Bruisse on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Izon-la-Bruisse on Mapquest

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