He is an academic, she was deported to Ravensbrück: they meet in Sabaillan thanks to a book

Michelle Tajan, columnist attached to her adopted village Sabaillan, can’t believe it. The Charentaise converted into a Gersoise, radiant, reports what for her is a real Christmas story.

The book in which Michelle Tajan retraces the journey of a former Resistance fighter from the Somme, Josiane Einstein-Dairin (“Behind the door, a story, a destiny”), caught the attention of a 20-year-old academic from Toulon, Neo Verriest. He is studying for a degree in history at Grenoble-Alpes University.

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In “Behind the door, a story, a destiny”, Michelle Tajan recounts the journey of Josiane Einstein, on the paths of the Resistance

An article

In this year 2024, he has chosen to write a memoir on the Resistance and the women deported to Ravensbrück and still alive. This is the case for Josiane Einstein-Dairin, a centenarian, who is retiring with her daughter in Sabaillan. In his research, Néo Verriest came across an article about her published by “La Dépêche du Midi” in Gers. This life novel touches him and he decides to meet her.

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The meeting

Michelle Tajan says: “We exchange a few emails to organize this meeting. He wants to carry out an interview to include in his dissertation and continue his research, planning to do a thesis on the women of Ravensbrück and on December 16, at 4 p.m., Néo arrived with his camera and a friend, he put his audio on Mrs. Einstein-Dairin’s table and with short and simple questions, he made her relive her tragic journey in the camp. Josiane kindly scrolled through her memories. The interview lasted an hour and a half.

The young man promised to stay in touch. Michelle Tajan admits: “I am proud to have allowed the meeting between a great lady, former Resistance fighter and Deportee from Ravensbrück, and a young academic from the South-East of France thanks to my book”.