The moving story of Simone Lagrange: Courage in the shadow of the Shoah

The moving story of Simone Lagrange: Courage in the shadow of the Shoah

In the coming weeks, a remarkable third volume in the trilogy about the life of Simone Lagrange, a Jewish teenager who experienced unimaginable suffering during National Socialism, will be published. “Simone – Tome 03: Mais un jour dans notre vie, le printemps refleurira” will be published on September 24, 2025. This volume offers a powerful insight into the horrors of the Holocaust and the experiences of the survivors. Loud LeJournal The story begins on June 6, 1944, when 14-year-old Simy Kadosche is arrested by the Gestapo in Lyon and suffers at the brutal hands of Klaus Barbie, the notorious head of the German police.

The plot develops further when Simone and her parents are deported to Auschwitz. Tragically, her mother dies there while her father is shot. These shocking experiences are portrayed with great sensitivity. David Evrad's drawings are designed to reflect the atmosphere of that time, but without a voyeuristic gaze. The approach of not imposing didactic content makes it possible to reach young readers and bring the terrible past closer to them.

Insights into traumatic memories

Simone not only survived Auschwitz, but also the death marches and the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her story covers the difficult return process after deportation, a challenge faced by many survivors. “The story is a true tale of courage and resilience,” emphasizes LeJournal. The challenges Simone faces are harrowing: she must secretly cross borders and confront the neighbors who have betrayed her family.

In a broader context, the Holocaust has established itself as a central topic in school and non-school education. Loud bpb.de Interviews with contemporary witnesses are an essential part of this educational work. They are intended not only to teach students about the horrors of National Socialism, but also to encourage tolerance and human rights. At the same time, there are discussions about the challenges and complexity of such conversations: the authenticity of the narratives is crucial to the educational value, but there are also tensions between subjective memories and objective representations of history.

Coping with the past

Simone Lagrange is an example of the many voices heard in the 1987 Barbie trial. She, along with other women, reported on Klaus Barbie's brutal torture. Loud Penn She witnessed Barbie beating and torturing her during her incarceration. These memories are not only part of their personal history, but also part of a larger collective memory that must be maintained in order to do justice to the victims of the Holocaust.

The publication of the third volume “Simone – Tome 03” not only offers a further perspective on the experiences of Simone Lagrange, but also a valuable opportunity to deepen the discussion about coming to terms with the Nazi past. In today's world, when the distance to the crimes of National Socialism is growing, it is even more important to keep the stories of the survivors alive - for future generations.