Henri Amouroux: The chronicler of the French Occupation

Henri Amouroux (1920-2007) is one of the greatest French historians of the Second World War. A journalist by training, he devoted a large part of his life to documenting and recounting the history of the French during the German Occupation from 1940 to 1945.

📺 Discover the lives of the French under the Occupation

A monumental work: The Great History of the French under the Occupation

Henri Amouroux is best known for his masterful series "The Great History of the French under the Occupation" , a historical fresco in 10 volumes which retraces with precision and humanity the daily life of the French between 1939 and 1945.

This exceptional series covers:

  • The debacle of 1940 and the collapse of France
  • The Vichy regime and collaboration
  • The French Resistance and its unsung heroes
  • Daily life under the Occupation: rationing, black market, resourcefulness
  • Liberation and its joys, but also its settling of scores

The lives of the French under the Occupation: an essential testimony

This book, part of Amouroux's extensive series, offers a unique perspective on the daily lives of French people during those dark years. Far from purely military or political narratives, Henri Amouroux focuses on ordinary men and women confronted with extraordinary choices.

What you will discover in this book:

  • How the French survived rationing and shortages
  • Resourcefulness strategies and the "do-it-yourself" approach
  • The complex relationship between the French and the German occupiers
  • The impossible moral choices: resist, collaborate, or simply survive
  • The authentic testimonies of those who lived through this period

Why read Henri Amouroux today?

Henri Amouroux's work remains strikingly relevant . Through his meticulous and empathetic narrative, he helps us understand:

  • How a society can change in just a few weeks
  • The mechanisms of collaboration and resistance
  • The importance of historical memory
  • The complexity of human choices in times of crisis

📚 Discover the complete Henri Amouroux collection

Metvox Publications offers the complete series "The Great History of the French under the Occupation" in print and digital formats (ePub, PDF, Kindle):

  1. The People of Disaster - The Collapse of June 1940
  2. 40 million Pétainists - Initial support for Marshal Pétain
  3. The Good Old Days of Collaborators - Collaboration at its Peak
  4. The Awakened People - The First Signs of Resistance
  5. Passions and hatreds - A divided France
  6. The War Without Mercy - The Intensification of the Conflict
  7. A spring of death and hope - 1944, the decisive year
  8. Joys and sorrows of the liberated people - Liberation and its ambiguities
  9. Settling of Accounts - The Purge
  10. The page has not yet been turned - The aftermath of war

Each volume is available for print-on-demand delivery (within 10 days with free Chronopost in mainland France) and for immediate download in digital formats.

An accessible and captivating style

What distinguishes Henri Amouroux from other historians is his ability to tell history like a novel , without ever sacrificing historical rigor. His narrative style, informed by his experience as a journalist, makes complex events accessible to the general public.

To go further

If you are interested in this period of French history, we also recommend:

  • Books on the Resistance : SOE versus Gestapo, Railway Workers in the Resistance
  • Biographies : Pétain before Vichy, June 18, 1940
  • Testimonies : Odette, agent S 23; Pauline, 1943

Order your copy of "The Life of the French Under the Occupation" now and immerse yourself in this exceptional historical panorama that has marked generations of readers.

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