Marcel DELANNOY (1898-1962). 145 L.A.S. "Marcel", [1940-1962 and n.d.], to his parents; about 300 pages of various sizes, mainly in-4 or in-8, including a few postcards. Important family correspondence, to his father and mother, especially about his life during the war and the Occupation, and about his activity as a composer. Most of the letters are addressed to his parents Eugène and Charlotte Delannoy, some to his wife Odette (the soprano Odette Ertaud) or to his niece Catherine Limozin (later Mme Louis Bretonnière). Delannoy gives a lot of information about his health, his wife Odette and their children François and Sylvine (who sometimes add a few words). Missing are the years 1942, 1946, 1949 and 1951 to 1955 (attributed to Sylvine). We can only give here a too quick overview of this fascinating correspondence, through a few quotes (details available on request). 1940. Delannoy is in the "phoney war" as a lieutenant. 28 May: "Alas, since this morning (Leopold's betrayal) everything has become dull, darkened. I am placed at a crossroads where everything is perceptible. My role is growing, more than I would like. I am asked to do an infinite number of things for which I have no precise order. Pagaisy - softness - rights - and the rest. I do what I can, overwhelmed with notes, papers, questions, phone calls [...] We will soon enter a period of internal tension favored by Hitler. There will be the communists and the "cagoulards". Hitler is still hesitating: to go down to Paris or to England? [...] We have been unforgivable, without imagination, without genius, dumbed down by vanity and ease. Let us hope in the wisdom of Pétain, Weygand, and in the UTILE sacrifice of our young men - to impress the Krauts sufficiently and to reserve the future of France? (the essential) "... [7 ? June], news of the bombing of Vanves, from which his son Jean-Louis (from his first marriage to Lisette Claveau) barely escaped. "It is necessary that our poor guys pay for the faults committed by others. Little by little Reynaud formed a real government. He is doing what he can. If we get out of this, the Reynaud-Pétain-Weygand triumvirate must keep the reins as long as possible. They are the guides that Providence has delegated to us"... June 11: "Since the Krauts crossed the Seine (we don't know exactly where), we have been in the dark - figuratively as well as literally - since a formidable artificial fog has been projected in such a way as to mask our incessant troop movements. [We are waiting for the evacuation order any minute, towards Blois [...] Hours go by - still nothing - no order, no information or terrible lies - we have nothing left to do. Nothing works, no instructions can be observed - An army is organized for the advance, not for the retreat "... Tarbes July 1st : " Between Arcachon and Pau, we were almost taken (before the armistice) - which was still important ! The enemy had passed in front of us on the road, a little before Dax - the telegraph poles had just been chopped down with an axe"... July 18: "Odette had managed magnificently, having evacuated Rennes between two terrible bombings (3000 victims) thanks to the opulent she barely knew how to drive (driving licence 2 days before) taking in 3 fleeing soldiers, taking the kids and granny to Nantes (serious events were expected there), continuing on an adventure southwards, finally landing near St Sever from where the Germans let her go to join me [...] The initiative of Gaulle is romantic, and in the shadow of this knight, many undesirable personalities gather"... July 21: "On demobilization and repatriation hangs a big question mark. We can see very little clearly; the most contradictory orders are circulating - and false rumors. Every Frenchman has become, alas, a living pagoda, and the simplest things of normal military life seem untouchable. [...] After the relief of the armistice, we become gradually aware of our immense and undeniable defeat - without example in history... - Only one hope: the intelligence of the Germans and the new Europe for which everyone needs France. But already, the Radio leaves no doubt as to a precondition: the anti-Semitic cleansing. I am thinking at the same time of many painful, tragic cases, included in a general rule of salutary hygiene"... [3.XII.1941]. Trip to Vienna, with Honegger, Florent Schmitt, Ansermet: "We are the object of a thousand sympathetic attentions here"; performances at the Opera. Then trip to Prague... 1943. June-August, stay in Megève, at "la Roseraie". Walks in the mountain pastures (drawing), where we also go to buy milk and eggs: "Today, for a packet of tobacco, we