By Frédéric Patard
Published on
May 5, 24 at 2:55 p.m.
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They were called Philip Morris, Pall Mall… They were named after brands of cigarettes with a scent of blond tobacco with a taste of freedom, that the Normans discovered after the war.
From September 1944 (for the start of their construction) in 1946, established in Seine-Maritime, the “ cigarette camps » saw tens of thousands of American soldiers.
These camps transit for the GI’s, upon their arrival in France or while awaiting their departure for the United States, were first installed near the Havenmain transit port under the code name 16th Port (16th port).
Philip Morris, Lucky Strike…
The first cigarette camp – called Twenty Grand – opened in the fall of 1944, located between Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville and Duclair.
Old Gold, between Fauville-en-Caux and Ourville-en-Caux was then built, followed by Lucy Strikethe most important with more 50,000 men. It was installed near the Château de Janville, next to Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, on a site built by the Germans at the start of the Occupation.
Philip Morris (35,000 men), at Gonfreville-l’Orcher, near Le Havre, Herbert Tareytonin the Montgeon forest, near the Haven (where Glenn Miller notably performed), Wingsin Bléville, near Le Havre, Pall Mallin Etretat, and Home Runin Sanvic, followed.
First made up of tents for phase 1, then prefabricated for phase 4, the cigarette camps were real cities. Nothing was missing: electricity, running water, sanitation, roads tarmac roads, health services, shops, restaurants…
Each camp has its function
These camps were also used to storesupply allied troops in the theater of operations in Europe. To the greatest joy of Normans neighbors, many of whom have benefited from the generosity of liberators from across the Atlantic.
Farm products, bottles of cider and calvados were trades against products so far strangers : corned beef, Coca-Cola, blonde cigarettes, chewing gum…
Civilians also benefit from the services sanitary to consult dentists or military doctors.
No nostalgia
The American authorities preferred to give the transit camps the names of cigarette brands instead of American cities, in order to avoid any nostalgia and drop in morale among the GIs, many of whom were going to the front.
The war over, each side has a assignment which is unique to him. American prisoners brought back fromGermany in Flying Fortresses go through Lucky Strike.
The troops intended to continue the fight in the Peaceful go through Herbert Tareyton.
The permittees for theEngland pass through Pall Mall. As for the injured, they are taken care of at Home Run. Before their return to civil lifethe reformed GI’s were demobilized at Twenty Grand.
After the return of the last GI’s in 1946, the cigarette camps disappear from the landscape Norman. As quickly as they were built.
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