From Montelimar to Dieulefit

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Some events between Inayat’s birth on December 26, 1940, in Nice and Fazal’s birth on July 20, 1942, in Montelimar are relevant for understanding what happened and will happen later on regarding Hidayat's decision to seek refuge in Dieulefit. 

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In February 1941, in Dieulefit, twenty miles east from Montelimar, the municipal council elected in 1935 was dissolved. Colonel Pizot became the new mayor pledging loyalty to the new Vichy government in the Free Zone.

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July 1941 anti-Semites aggressions in Nice were increasing creating a feeling of insecurity. 

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Khair-un-nisa “Claire” Inayat-Khan is Hazrat Inayat Khan's youngest child (16). She was born June 3, 1919. As the German occupied France and her home in Suresnes, at 22 years old, August 26, 1941, Claire Boulanger (17), Hidayat’s younger sister became a French citizen in London. She lived there with Noor, Vilayat and their mother. She worked there as a nurse.

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Since the Armistice, June 22, 1940, France was cut in two zones. The Free Zone in the south fell under the Vichy government. The Drome department where Montelimar is located was in the Free Zone until November 11, 1942. Then, the Drome department was placed under Italian authority until September 1943 (Italian surrender to the Allied) and after that the German army occupied the Drome department (18).

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Petain established the French State on July 11, 1940. Vichy government voted the Jewish status law allowing arresting and interning all Jewish foreigners (18).

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In the Drôme, Recoubeau, Saint-Martin-en-Vercors, the Camp of Loriol-sur-Drôme, the camp of Montelimar, the 533e CTE-GTE of Saint-Vincent-de-Charpey, the 352e GTE of Crest were detention centers for “undesirables” such as Jewish, Tzigane and all type of foreign refugees running away from the Nazis. Those detention camps were used for get cheap labor and became waiting room for extermination camps in Germany. British citizens were considered enemies, not only of the Nazis, but the Vichy regime as well. 

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September 17, 1940 rationing was established for food, clothing, etc… This means that it was necessary to obtain from City Hall vouchers for all the daily necessities. A pregnant woman as Leny in Nice from September to December 1940 and again in Montelimar before giving birth in July 1942 had to register at City Hall. From this rationing card, based on a doctor's certificate, Leny could get milk, additional food, and coal. One ticket allowed having priority in lines formed in front of stores or in public transportation.

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The region was full of refugees from Alsace that was annexed to Germany, from people close to the Italian border and from many other eastern countries to a point of saturation. This was in addition to 1937 and 1939 Spanish refugees that were numerous in the Drome department. Some were put in the camps named above with anti-nazis from Germany or Austria who were in France since 1933.

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On June 22, 1942, Pierre Laval, Vichy regime’s Prime Minister, announced the enactment of the “relève,” whereby French workers were encouraged to volunteer to work in Germany to secure the release of French prisoners of war.

July 20, 1942, Fazal was born in Montelimar (he died September 26, 1990). Shortly after that Hidayat and Helena (Leny) decided to move the family twenty miles east for safety in Dieulefit, Drome.

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On the night of August 25 to 26 1942, the police and the French gendarmes (militarized police) picked up many Jewish foreigners and interned them in camps. It was certainly prescient for Hidayat to have decided to move his family away from Montelimar. 

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The police state, with constant control, food rationing and internment mostly of foreigners and Jewish people created insecurity that contributed to Hidayat and Leny to move away from Montelimar. In addition Hidayat dark skin tone attracted too much attention and he had British papers. 

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The law of September 4, 1942, signed by Philippe Petain, Chief of State for Vichy France, as well as by Laval, entitled Law of 4 September 1942 on the use and guidance of the workforce required all able-bodied men aged 18 to 50 and single women aged 21 to 35 to “be subject to do any work that the Government deemed necessary.” More than 600,000 French workers were sent to Germany between June 1942 and July 1944.

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