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Talk outline:

In 1944, the population of northern and central France were subject to a ferocious and intense bombing campaign by Allied air forces. The civilian populations of Normandy and the industrial suburbs of Paris, in particular Boulogne-Billancourt, home of the Renault factory, faced the brunt of these attacks. Despite causing as much devastation as the Blitz, the experiences of this bombardment have been largely overlooked. It was only in the 2000s that the French people impacted by these bombs were encouraged to speak about their experiences. This talk will explore the ways that the civilian population of northern and central France have used the example set by Coventry and Dresden as a move towards reconciliation with the past.