"Rationing and the Black Market in Paris During the War" Topic

"Black Market in Paris

Many of us grew up with the image of Private Walker in Dad's Army. The spiv, a lovable comedy character selling stockings and chocolates illegally, getting into scrapes with authority and helping others while helping himself. He was the black market of nostalgia, the rebel getting around the restrictions of wartime rationing and shortages, a Robin Hood figure stealing from a faceless system to feed the good people of Walmington-on-Sea.

Of course, we all know rationing and the black market, especially in London, had nothing of the cosy or comedic. The war years were a boom time for criminals: crime figures leapt by nearly 60 per cent; the blackout provided a cover for lawlessness; and criminal gangs prospered, their activities reprehensible, their actions brutal. This was all at a time when police forces were increasingly stretched by the extra problems they faced, and through loss of personnel to the armed services. Stringent rationing inevitably brought the villains and opportunists out of the woodwork. A black market emerged, not the black market of Walker and Dad's Army, but one of gangs and robberies, thefts and exploitation. Forgery and fraud flourished, murder and extortion were not infrequent…"

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Armand

So much is written about Paris under the Occupation. Much less about the rest of France up to 1943 under Vichy (well in English anyway)

August 1944, incredible (in every sense of the word) how many resistants suddenly emerged, who could bravely shave womens' heads or had served as police for years, but could now parade the streets as heroes.

There is a need for book to address a subject that would not do well in France, but would do justice to the real heroes who fought the odds, who fought against the rules of war frankly and would now be called terrorists, but esp the lunatics who joined the tiny Free French units in 1940-43, thinking they could help to free a humbled France. Crazy, could not happen, what a sacrifice they made. But, against all the odds, they made a huge contribution.

An interesting piece of French law : archives will not open before 100 years in the case of a police matter where minors are concerned… a lot of documents pertaining to the Occupation are still unavailable for public scrutiny.

But we haven't waited this long to make fun of this dark time. Whenever I hear of black market, I can't help but think of the movie "La traversée de Paris" with Jean Gabin, Bourvil & Louis de Funès". I whish you can find a subtlitled copy, it's a real blast.

Thanks

Armand