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Air Raid Sirens in Paris
Gustave's family (the Beckers) make preparations to leave Paris fearing the Germans are coming. At night, there have been air raid sirens in the distance. They are fearful the Germans are moving toward France. They are also working on applying for visas so they can eventually move to the U.S. Gustave takes clothes, his stuffed Monkey, books, paints and a map of Europe. It is a very sad day. -
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Occupied and Unoccupied France During WWII
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Saint- Georges , France
Gustave and his family leave Paris and move to the French countryside in the Loire Valley. They leave behind Aunt Geraldine, his cousin Jean-Paul and best friend, Marcel and his mother. They do not believe the Nazis will bomb Paris. Also, Jean-Paul and Marcel's fathers are soldiers fighting in the war and they want to stay in Paris in case they come home looking for them. Gustave's father, Berthold has a limp from polio so he doesn't need to serve in the army. -
The German Nazis bomb Paris
Germany has already invaded Denmark and Norway. Now Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg have been taken over. They bomb Paris and move into France. -
The Exodus
The French in the countryside decide to flee, heading toward Spain. On their route, Nazi planes are overhead shooting at civilians on the highway and destroying bridges. Gustave and his family decide to return to Saint-Georges. The Germans march through town. -
French Vichy Government
Saint Georges was in the unoccupied zone while France called an armistice. This means France stopped fighting the war but allowed the Nazis to occupy part of their country. French government in the "unoccupied territory" is headed by Petain. Luckily, Saint Georges is just over the line of demarcation in unoccupied territory. -
Gustave starts school
Gustave was told by his mother not to let anyone know that he was Jewish at school. Saint-Georges is a Catholic community. There is a mean boy, Philippe at school who thinks Gustave is Jewish. -
Vichy Government Makes Demands
The Vichy Government said all Jews may no longer work for the government, the law, in public schools, radio or film. Papa uses his Swiss identity papers to cross into the occupied zone to barter for food.He brings back things like potatoes, chicken, apples and cheese. He hopes to get radishes for Gustave and his wife. -
La Touissant school holiday
Gustave goes with his dad on a trip into occupied territory while on school vacation to get some ducks from Madame Robert. She also gave them black radishes, but they were confiscated by the German soldiers at the border. They like to eat them with their beer, so they gave them to the soldiers so they could make it back across the border. -
The Germans bomb England
The border has been closed for several months, so Gustave's dad has not gone into occupied territory since it was too dangerous. The Germans are taking over more of Western Europe. The Jews in the occupied zones had to wear badges and Petain wanted them to do that in the unoccupied zone. Foreign Jews were being put in camps. The French Resistance wants people to paint V's on bulidings for Victory for France. -
Yugoslavia & Greece surrender to the Germans
More and more restrictions are being imposed on Jews. There is going to be a census of Jews soon. -
Gustave's Family go to the Police Station
They have to go to the Police Station to register that they are Jewish. All Jews were required to do this. Red letters said "JUIVE" Jew nest to their name. Very humiliating. -
Law 3086
All Jews must register their residence and all assets with the police department. The Beckers do not do this fearing they would end up with nothing. They have been checking on the status of their visas, but no luck. Things are getting more dangerous for Jews in France -
School knows Gustave is Jewish
The students find out Gustave is Jewish. Philippe hates Jews.He makes a false report to the police that they are spies. The situation is getting very dangerous. Gustave discovers his friend Nicole is part of the French Resistance. They make contact with their family back in Paris and they are ok which is great news.. Gustave's parents bury a box with money and jewels in the back yard in case the Nazis come to the house to take any of them away. -
French Resistance
Nicole's father agrees to help the Beckers find their friends and relatives in Paris and get them to Saint-Georges through the French Resistance. They need to set up a plan. Gustave wants to help. He goes on a French Resistance ride with Nicole at the border. She wears a special colored hat if the coast is clear for the Jews to cross the border at the Menier Castle which sits on both sides of the border. This helps Gustave so he can help prepare a plan to get his family to Saint-Georges. -
Dangerous visits to occupied territory
Over several weeks, Papa crosses the border 4 times, making friends with the German soldiers at the border. This is in preparation for the arrival of Aunt Geraldine's family. They need to gain the soldiers' trust and will bribe them with black radishes so they don't check the truck when they smuggle them across. -
A Family Reunited
The French Resistance got Aunt Geraldine, Jean-Paul and baby Giselle to Madame Robert's house in the occupied territory. Gustave and Papa need to get them back over the border into unoccupied territory. The friendly guard Karl was working and they were hidden in the back of the truck. Gustave gave the guards some black radishes and the Germans joked and let them cross the border. Safe at last! -
Freedom at Last
The family leaves Saint-Georges France safely, travels through Spain and Portugal. They set sail from Lisbon for the United States. They were able to get affidavits since they have family living in the US already. They were sad because no one knew what happened to Marcel and his family. They think that they may have been put in a camp by the Nazis. A new life will begin in the US.
