JF Ptak Science Books Post 2891
Someone at the OSS was in a rush to classify this 1944/5 pamphlet as French “propaganda”. Etienne Fajon and Arthur Giovani, and others were responsible for the pamphlet in question, Jeunesse, Espoir du Pays. It was a published meeting of the French Communist “Assemblee Consultative” meeting in Algeria in July 1944. I don’t know exactly when or where it was printed but my guess is that it was before July 1945 in Algeria. It was printed on newsprint and offered out as an important but ephemeral piece, which is why, I think, it is unknown in WorldCat.
The cataloger at the library of the OSS (the precursor to the CIA) labeled this “COMMUNISM—France-Propaganda”, which it is overall, though what it is first, I think, is a call to arms. And that clarion call is very directly aimed at the youth of France, which the Communist Party saw as being directly under attack by the Nazis.
The writers here established that “combat over slow death” was the approach to take, there in 1944. It was their belief that the French children and families were being destroyed by Hitler, and that all needed to combat this. People were supposed to fight for their children, who were being malnourished and starved by the Nazis, indoctrinated by Nazi schools, and having their life will drained from them. People were supposed to rise up with the support of the Communists and whoever else was available, and by all means necessary. From what I read, this was pretty string stuff.
Here’s a selection of what they were talking about:
(Section header: Helping Youth to Fight)
“We all want to save the French youth that the enemy is trying to destroy. All that, there is only one way: to help young people in France to defend themselves against the enemy, to strike him, to hasten his defeat.”
“..the rations granted to the French, from January 1943, were equivalent to the death of one in five individuals. No fight could cost our young generation so dear.”
“Helping French youth to fight that means: Replace certain wait-and-see or stupid broadcasts on our radio with specific advice to young workers to organize the sabotage of enemy production and transport with minimum risk and maximum efficiency
“…develop the struggle of prisoners and deportees in Germany who are, in their vast majority, young people doomed to death. Our radio must give directives for escapes, for sabotage, for all forms of struggle • in enemy territory. Above all, to urgently send by all means, to young soldiers without uniform, small arms, ammunition, clothing, instructors.