Leo 1944. Relive the landing at child’s height

Last updated on 4 June 2019

‘My name is Leo. I am 14 years old and here is my story in 1944’. As we prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Allied Normandy landings, welcome here the beautiful operation of the department of La Manche. Throughout this year, a teenager imagined by the departmental council of the Manche will revive day after day his daily life on social networks.  75 years later, Léo tells you about his life then, the daily life of his family and those around him. Pedagogical and …vertigineux.

I was born on January 8, 1930. I live with my parents Mathieu and Jeanne in Cherbourg. Soon we'll be 4 because I'm going to have a little brother or sister. Dad's a doctor and Mommy's a teacher. I dream of becoming a diplomat.” Social networks like Twitter and Facebook lend themselves particularly well to this kind of dive into history. We remember the extraordinary Newspaper of a hairy person on Twitter.

Leo did not exist, but he did. His daily messages tell of the little joys and misfortunes of a world at war...at the height of a child. With each episode of his story, always taken from real facts, you will be able to find documents provided by the Departmental Archives of the Channel. Great.

Each publication refers to a specific article published on the website of the departmental archives of the Channel, providing historical and scientific insight into the facts reported. Publications are illustrated by period documents (archives, photographs, videos or audio testimonies) or by original drawings.

A terrible and exciting soap opera to make your students discover.

Leo – Thursday 1 June 1944.
Our neighbour’s brother, from the Angers police, called the Saint-Lô police to warn the family that his house had been completely destroyed during the bombing of the city. They have nothing left, but are unharmed.
I am afraid.#Leo1944

— Leo 1944 (@Leo_1944) 1 June 2019

You can follow Leo's daily life in this year 1944 on Twitter and on Facebook

Link: Category: Departmental archives of the English Channel