CHAPTER TWO

THE GESTAPO TAKES ACTION AGAINST THE STRASBOURG FRENCH UNIVERSITY
ACCORDING TO HIMMLER, THIS IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL INTEREST FOR THE GROSS REICH

PHASE I - DECEMBER 1942 : TALKS BETWEEN REICHFUHRER HIMMLER AND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS VON RIBBENTROP

Himmler: "We must close down the University and repatriate 500 teachers and students of German stock to the Reich."
Ribbentrop and Abetz : "Yes! But do it under the pretext of police operations."

PHASE 2 - 1943-1944: RAIDS AND ARRESTS IN THE UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS

JUNE 24, 1943 : RAIDING OF THE GALLIA, THE STUDENTS' CENTRE

Raiding of the Gallia, the Alsace Lorraine Students' Centre (rue Rabanesse). This operation was carried out in reprisal for the killing of 2 Gestapo members in the house of Professor Flandin (rue haute Saint André).
37 students are arrested.

NOVEMBER 25, 1943 : THE GREAT RAID

The whole Faculties of Strasbourg University was concerned. The operation was carefully organised by Vichy and Clermont-Ferrand Gestapo agents and carried out with the support of a Luftwaffe unit. 1200 people were arrested, 110 of whom remain in custody.
Treason of George Mathieu.
Danjon, Vice-chancellor of the University, protested to Pierre Laval, Vichy's Prime Minister.

MARCH 8, 1944 : RAIDING IN THE HOSPITAL

Members of Strasbourg Faculty of Medicine of and Medical school, Doctors, teachers or students, are arrested after being betrayed to the authorities by Mucous, the hospital Under Director.
The same day, three grenades were thrown at a German detachment (rue Mont osier, place de la Pot erne). Some hours later, other members of the University were arrested in their homes
Under orders of the hierarchy, the German Military Tribunal in Lyon activated the on going trials and ensured immediate execution: between March 24 and May 10 1944, three Alsace-Lorraine law students were shot: Alfred Klein, Henri Weilbacher, and François Martzolff.