**Vél’ d’Hiv’ Roundup: A Living Memory, Between Testimony and Resilience**
Every year, on January 27, the international community comes together to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. This day is more than just a moment of contemplation: it is an urgent call to memory, an invitation to delve into the personal stories of those who lived through the horrors of that time. Among them, Arlette Testyler, a survivor of the Vél’ d’Hiv’ roundup in July 1942, embodies this living memory. At the age of 9, she witnessed events that marked not only her life, but also the history of France. Today, her testimony is of capital importance, not only as a tribute to the victims, but also as a source of lessons for future generations.
**A Stolen Childhood: The Intergenerational Impact of the Roundup**
The Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, which affected nearly 13,000 Parisian Jews, was one of the most brutal actions carried out in France under the Nazi occupation. Recalling her journey on the set of Fatshimetrie, Arlette Testyler recalls how her childhood was devastated by the cruelty of this system. Her father, deported and killed at Auschwitz, illustrates the tragic fate reserved for thousands of families. But beyond the personal story of loss and pain, it is crucial to explore how these memories fit into a larger intergenerational framework.
The children and grandchildren of Holocaust victims often live with the weight of family history. Studies show that the trauma experienced by one generation can influence the behaviors and psychologies of the following ones. This phenomenon, known as “transgenerational transmission”, has given rise to much research. Arlette Testyler’s memory enriches this discussion, as she embodies this struggle to reconnect generations to a legacy that is both heavy and bears great resilience.
**Testimony as an act of resistance**
Arlette Testyler’s testimony is also an act of resistance in the face of forgetting and denial. In a world where revisionist discourses and attempts to minimize the Holocaust persist, it is vital to continue to give a voice to survivors. Their story, which recalls the cruelty of past events, becomes a platform for education and awareness. By telling her story on media such as Fatshimetrie.org, Arlette helps to anchor these lessons in the collective consciousness.
In addition, these testimonies are integrated into educational initiatives aimed at combating anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred. According to the 2022 report of the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination, anti-Semitic acts have increased by 74% in France since 2018. Such figures underline the urgency of an education anchored in historical realities, where personal stories play a key role..
**Paying tribute through art and culture**
Arlette Testyler is not the only one to bear witness. Literature, cinema, and other art forms have also taken hold of this memory. Works such as “Night” by Elie Wiesel or “Suite Française” by Irène Némirovsky explore the Jewish experience under Nazi occupation and are now integrated into school curricula, allowing younger generations to explore the past through tangible stories.
These works serve as complements to direct testimonies. They broaden the scope of understanding of tragic events, while transmitting essential human values such as solidarity, empathy, and resistance to oppression. These artistic stories help to build bridges between the past and the present, fostering dialogue between different generations.
**Conclusion: Towards a living and engaged memory**
Arlette Testyler’s testimony is much more than a simple narration of past suffering. This is a challenge to each of us not to forget and to act against intolerance in all its forms. By sharing her story, she reminds us that memory must remain alive, not only in remembrance of those who were lost, but also as a guide to building a future where such atrocities never happen again.
See you on January 27th, but let us not forget that every day should be an opportunity to remember and act. As Arlette so aptly points out, “To tell is to resist”. Her voice is a precious legacy that we must preserve and pass on, to face a world where memory becomes more than just a memory: it becomes an action.