If Only it Hadn't Rained: A Memoir of Forced Labour in the Second World War

During a brutal roundup in the Lot et Garonne region in May 1944, Roland Chopard was arrested by the German SS and forced to work in different places, including Dachau, BMWs Eisenach factory, and Buchenwald. This book is based on his memoir, the family's papers, interviews with his daughter Annie, and the memories of others whose relatives were caught in the same roundup.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

Imagine being abruptly taken from your regular existence and transported to a distant location, where you are coerced into labor in an unfamiliar and dreadful environment. Picture being subjected to violence, enduring chronic hunger, inhabiting deplorable conditions, and constantly wondering if you will ever return to your home. Imagine experiencing an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

This is precisely what transpired for young Frenchman Roland Chopard in May 1944, when he was apprehended by the German SS during a ruthless roundup in the Lot et Garonne region, just prior to D-Day. This marked the beginning of a harrowing period of forced labor, during which he was transferred to various locations, including Dachau, BMW's Eisenach factory, and ultimately Buchenwald.

Roland managed to survive. Unfortunately, many others did not. Upon his return home in 1945, Roland penned a poignant account of his experiences, which remained unread in the family house in Villeneuve-sur-Lot until it was discovered by his son Alex several years after Roland's passing in 2006.

This book is based on Roland's memoir, family papers, interviews with his daughter Annie, and the recollections of others whose relatives were caught in the same roundup as Roland. It is a deeply personal narrative, set within a specific historical context, yet encompassing the broader human experience.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803136653