Irène Némirovsky - Suite Française

[24] Michel Epstein's sister; she would be arrested and deported to Auschwitz. (Editor)

[25] A French friend of Samuel Epstein, Michel Epstein's older brother. (Editor)

[26] Irène Némirovsky's maid. (Editor)

3 August 1942

Mme Rousseau (French Red Cross) to Michel Epstein

Dr. Bazy[27] left this morning for the Free Zone where he will spend a few days; he is going to look into the case of Mme Epstein once there and will do everything in his power to intervene on her behalf. As he didn't have time to reply to you before leaving, he asked me to let you know he received your letter and that he will do everything possible to assist you.

[27] President of the Red Cross. (Editor)

6 August 1942

Michel Epstein to Mme Rousseau

I was happy to hear that Dr. Bazy is taking steps to help my wife. I wonder if it might not be a good opportunity to coordinate his efforts with those already taken by:

1 My wife's publisher, Monsieur Albin Michel (the person who is dealing with this matter is Monsieur André Sabatier, one of the company directors).

2 Mme Paul Morand.

3 Henri de Régnier.

4 Count de Chambrun.

Monsieur Sabatier will be receiving a copy of this letter and he can give you any information you might need (tel: DAN 87.45). It is particularly painful not knowing where my wife is (she was at the Pithiviers camp-Loiret, on 17 July and since then I haven't had a single word from her). I would like her to know that the children and I have not been affected by recent directives and that we are all in good health. Could the Red Cross get the same message to her? Is it allowed to send parcels?

6 August 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier

Enclosed is a copy of the letter I sent to the Red Cross. Still not a word from my wife. It's hard. Was it possible to contact Ambassador Abetz and give him my letter? Michel.

P.S. Could you send me the Count de Chambrun's address?

9 August 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier

I have just learned, from a very reliable source, that the women (and men and even the children) interned at the Pithiviers camp were taken to the German border and from there sent somewhere further east-probably Poland or Russia. This is supposed to have happened about three weeks ago.

Up till now, I thought my wife was in some camp in France, in the custody of French soldiers. To learn she is in an uncivilised country, in conditions that are probably atrocious, without money or food and with people whose language she does not even know, is unbearable. It is now no longer a matter of getting her out of a camp sooner rather than later but of saving her life.

You must have received the telegram I sent yesterday; I pointed out one of my wife's books, Les Mouches d'Automne, first published by Kra, deluxe edition, and then by Grasset. This book is clearly anti-Bolshevik and I deeply regret not having thought of it sooner. I hope it is not too late to stress this new piece of evidence we have to the German authorities.

I know, dear friend, that you are doing everything you can to save us, but I beg of you, find, think of something else, speak again to Morand, Chambrun, your friend and in particular to Dr. Bazy, President of the Red Cross, 12 rue Newton, tel: KLE 84.05 (the head of his section is Mme Rousseau, same address) pointing out the new evidence of Les Mouches d'Automne. It is absolutely inconceivable that we, who lost everything because of the Bolsheviks, should be condemned to death by those who are fighting them!

Alas, my dear friend, I am launching one final appeal. I know that it is unforgivable to impose on you and the rest of our remaining friends this way but, I say it again, it is a question of life and death not only for my wife but also for our children, not to mention myself. The situation is serious. Alone here, with the little ones, virtually imprisoned since it is forbidden for me to move, I cannot even take solace in being able to act. I can no longer either sleep or eat, please accept that as an excuse for this incoherent letter.

10 August 1942 I, the undersigned, Count W. Kokovtzoff, former President of the Council of Ministers, Finance Minister of Russia, hereby certify that I knew the late Monsieur Efim Epstein, Administrator of the Bank of Russia, member of the Union of Banks that operated in Paris under my chairmanship, that he had the reputation of a banker of irreproachable integrity and that his actions and sympathies were clearly anti-communist, [sworn at the Police Station]

12 August 1942

André Sabatier to Michel Epstein

I received your telegram and letters. I am replying before leaving Paris for the suburbs for a few weeks. If you need to write to me between 15 August and 15 September, send it to the [publishing] house where it will be dealt with immediately, they will do whatever is necessary if they can and keep me up to date. Here is what I've done: many initiatives without much success as yet:

(1) No reply from the Count de Chambrun to whom I have written. Since I don't know him, I can't chase him up, as I don't know whether his silence is a sign that he doesn't wish to get involved. His address is 6 bis, place du Palais-Bourbon, VII.

(2) On the other hand, Mme P. Morand is displaying tireless devotion. She is increasing her attempts, she has your letter and its essence will be sent very soon, along with a medical certificate, by one of her friends who is also at the embassy. Les Mouches d'Automne, which she read, does not seem to her to be at all what she was looking for: anti-revolutionary, of course, but not anti-Bolshevik. She suggests that you do not take any unsystematic and pointless initiatives, as she sees it. The only door you should be knocking on, again according to her, is the Jewish Union who alone, through its network, could tell you where your wife is and perhaps get news to her about the children. Here is her address: 29 rue de la Bienfaisance, VIII.

(3) My friend told me straight out that his attempts led him to conclude there was nothing he could do.

(4) Same reply, just as categorical, from my father, after approaching the French regional authorities.

(5) I asked a friend to contact the author of Dieu est-il français? (Friedrich Sieburg) who promised to see [what could be done], not to have her released, which seemed doubtful to him, but at least to have some news of her.

(6) Yesterday, I telephoned the Red Cross where I spoke to Mme Rousseau's stand-in, who was very kind and knew all about the matter. Dr. Bazy is currently in the Free Zone and is making enquiries in high places regarding what might be possible. He is due back on Thursday, so I'll phone him before I leave.

My personal feelings are as follows:

(1) The directive which affected your wife is part of a general order (here, in Paris alone, it seems to have affected several thousand stateless people), which partly explains why we seem to be incapable of obtaining an order for special treatment, but which also means we can hope that nothing special might happen to your wife.

(2) This directive was ordered by certain German authorities who have total control in this area and in the face of whom the French authorities and other German civil or military authorities, even those in high places, seem to have no influence.

(3) Leaving for Germany seems probable, not to go to the camps according to Mme P. Morand, but to go to Polish cities where stateless people are all being held.

All this is very hard, I feel it only too well, dear Monsieur. You must try only to think of the children and remain strong for them, easy advice to give… I'm sure you'll say. Alas! I have done everything I can. Your very faithful André.