Following the Lines

Irène Litz-Barré's formative years were spent in the chaos of World War II. Belgian neutrality went "BOOM" on May 10, 1940, and her father joined his army unit, the "Chasseurs Ardennais." Her family's village, located in front of the French Maginot Line, had to be evacuated. As part of a group of twenty-seven civilians packed in a coal truck, they crossed the famous line under the attacks of Stukas, the dreaded German dive bombers, and arrived safely in the coastal town of Granville in Normandy, where they joined some family members. They left two days later and ended up in Réalmont in southern France, where they were welcomed, offered help, and given residence. After three months of exile, Irène and her family were allowed to cross the German Demarcation Line and head home. They happily found Dad at home; he had escaped from two different columns of prisoners being marched to Germany. Soon, in addition to doing his Gendarmerie Commander job for the Germans, Irène's father joined the Underground Army. His secret activities became increasingly hectic and dangerous. The family was fortunate to escape with their lives. Thanks to General Patton, they were liberated in September 1944, and were relieved when the war ended in 1945. They still had to cross a bumpy period of political readjustments, until when, at last, they could "breath freely again."