My mother Eugénie, narrowly escaped death on the day of a senseless and brutal massacre that took place in the village of Maillé. As a young woman of 18 she witnessed multiple scenes of horror. Yet she rarely spoke about these traumatic events until later in life, when, around the age of 90, she finally opened up to my children.

Eugénie remembered hearing the screams as the Germans destroyed houses and killed all members of a neighbour’s family. She was with him as he discovered the tragedy and the sense of hopelessness that followed.

 At first, Ghislaine’s mother managed to bury her thoughts, feelings and emotions. Yet Ghislaine realised the immense sense of burden carried by her mother. However, one day in later life, after seeing photos of friends and acquaintances who had been massacred, Eugénie became overwhelmed by grief and feelings of guilt for being one of the few survivors.

It was finally with the help and encouragement of Ghislaine’s children that Eugénie was willing to open up and recount the events of that tragic day. By recording the details firsthand, Ghislaine has been able to write a book of her mother’s experiences entitled “Grandma Do You Remember”.

 That this atrocity should take place on the same day as the liberation of Paris has made it acutely painful for the families within Maillé. So many acts of brutality took place on 25th August 1944 that it has taken many years for the Maison du Souvenir to bring these atrocities to the wider public’s attention.