Le S. T. O. Dans le Rhône, histoire et mémoire (1942-1990)
Institution:
Lyon 2Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
One of the most stiking features of the nazi system has been the recruting of foreign workers from 1940 to 1945. About 11 000 inhabitants of the rhone department have been forced by the vichy government to expatriate and work in the german factories. In spite of the propaganda and blackmail under the name of "releve", "s. T. O. " and exchange of prisoners of war, a large number of work recruits chose insubordination and its dangerous consequences. Only a few insubordinates went as far as taking up an active part in the underground movment. Obviously, the requisition of labour deprived the local factories and administration of their own workers and employees and contributed to the growing feeling of dissatisfaction. Back from germany, the former "s. T. O. " had to face the suspicion and distrust from some of their fellow citizens as to a supposed collaboration. The "deportes du travail" as they chose to call themselves had to undergo difficult years to get the status of victims of war and finally organized into the powerful federation nationale des deportes du travail, a kind of counterpoint of the concentration camp deportees organizations wich helped the members and oter people build and keep a vivid memory of their experience. It is an aching memory torn as they were between their need to tell their sad story and their desire to keep silent about the past. Thus, it is no surprise that our contemporaries should know so little about the "s. T. O. ", in spite of. . .
Abstract FR:
L'utilisation par le reich de plusieurs millions de travailleurs etrangers entre 1940 et 1945 constitue l'une des caracteristiques de son effort de guerre. Quelques 11 000 rhodaniens furent contraints par le gouvernement de vichy d'aller travailler en allemagne. Dans le climat de propagande intense et de chantage au retour des prisonniers qui entoure les requisitions de la releve et le s. T. O. , bon npmbre de requis choisissent la voie difficile du refractariat qui ne conduit que tres minoritairement a la resistance. Les requisitions de main-d'oeuvre perturbent indeniablement le fonctionnement des entreprises et des services publics et contribuent a detacher de vichy un nombre croissant de mecontents. A leur retour d'allemagne, les anciens "s. T. O. " se heurtent a la mefiance et au soupcon de collaboration de la part de certains francais. Pour obtenir la reconnaissance de leur situation de victimes de la guerre, ceux qui affirment se nommer "deportes du travail" s'organisent en une puissante federation: la federation nationale des deportes du travail. Parallelement, au sein de la communaute des anciens "s. T. O. " s'elabore une memoire officielle de la "deportation du travail", en contrepoint de celle des deportes concentrationnaires. Une memoire douloureuse, partagee entre le desir de se raconter et le besoin de ne plus rien dire. Une memoire fort mal connue de nos contemporains malgre le nombre eleve des victimes, une memoire que de recents proces ont contribue a meurtrir un peu plus.