My dearest love, my cherished children, I think we are leaving today. Courage and hope. You are in my heart, my loved ones. May God help us all.
14 July 1942
Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
I tried to reach you by telephone yesterday without success. I have sent both you and Monsieur Esménard a telegram. The police took my wife away yesterday. It appears she is going to the concentration camp in Pithiviers (Loiret). Reason: general order against stateless Jews between the ages of sixteen and forty-five. My wife is Catholic and our children are French. Can anything be done to help her?
André Sabatier's reply
In any case will need several days. Yours Sabatier.
15 July 1942
André Sabatier to J. Benoist-Méchin,
Secretary of State to the Vice President of the Council of Ministers
Our author and friend I. Némirovsky has just been taken to Pithiviers from Issy-l'Évêque where she was living. Her husband has just informed me of this. A white Russian (Jewish as you know), never been involved in any political activities, a novelist of very great talent, having always paid the greatest tribute to her adopted country, mother of two little girls aged five and ten. I beg you to do everything you can. Thank you in advance and yours very truly.
Telegram from Michel Epstein to R. Esménard and A. Sabatier 16 July 1942 My wife must be at Pithiviers by now-Think useful to intercede at the regional police headquarters in Dijon-Sous-Préfet Autun and authorities Pithiviers. Michel Epstein.
16 July 1942
Telegram from Michel Epstein to Robert Esménard
Thank you dear friend-I put my hope in you. Michel Epstein.
17 July 1942
Telegram from Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
Counting on you to send telegram with news good or bad. Thank you dear friend.
17 July 1942
Lebrun[15] to Michel Epstein-Telegram
Pointless sending package as haven't seen your wife.
[15] A Red Cross intermediary. (Editor)
18 July 1942
Telegram from Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
No news of my wife-Don't know where she is-Try to find out and tell me truth by telegram-with advance notice can phone me day or night. ISSY-L'ÉVÊQUE.
20 July 1942
Telegram from Abraham Kalmanok[16] to Michel Epstein
Did you send Irène's medical certificate-must do so immediately. Send telegram.
[16] Great-uncle of Denise and Elisabeth Epstein. (Editor)
22 July 1942
Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
I have received a letter from my wife, from the Pithiviers camp, dated last Thursday, telling me she would probably be leaving for an unknown destination, which I assume is far away. I have sent a telegram, and prepaid reply, to the commandant of the camp, but I have not heard from him. Would your friend possibly have more success, perhaps he could obtain the information they are refusing to give me? Thank you for everything you are doing. Keep me informed, I beg you, even if it's bad news. Yours truly.
Reply
Have personally seen my friend.[17] Will do everything possible.
[17] The content of this letter implies he is talking about Jacques Benoist-Méchin. (Editor)
Saturday 24 July 1942
André Sabatier to Michel Epstein
If I haven't written to you it is because I have nothing precise to tell you at present and I can only bring myself to tell you the kind of things that might lessen your suffering. Everything necessary has been done. I saw my friend again who told me that all we can do now is wait. I pointed out, after receiving your first letter, that your children are French citizens, and after receiving the second letter, of [Irène's] possible departure from the Loiret camp. I am waiting and this waiting, please believe me, is very painful to me as a friend… I say this to assure you that I am putting myself in your place! Let us hope that very soon I will have some definite good news to tell you. My heart goes out to you.
26 July 1942
Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
Perhaps we should point out that in my wife's case they are dealing with a White Russian who never wanted to accept Soviet citizenship, who fled Russia after a great deal of persecution, with her parents whose entire fortune was confiscated. I myself am also in the same position and I am not exaggerating when I calculate that about one hundred million pre-war francs were taken from my wife and myself in Russia. My father was President of the Syndicat des Banques Russes (Union of Russian Banks) and Executive Director of the Bank of Commerce of Azov-Don. The authorities concerned can therefore be assured that we haven't the slightest sympathy for the current Russian regime. My younger brother, Paul, was a personal friend of the Grand Duke Dimitri of Russia and the Imperial Family living in France was often received by my father-in-law, in particular, Grand Duke Alexander and Grand Duke Boris. Moreover, I would point out to you, if I have not already done so, that the German non-commissioned officers who spent several months living with us, in Issy, left me the following document when they left:
O.U. den I, VII, 41
Kameraden. Wir haben längere Zeit mit der Familie Epstein zusam-mengelebt und diese sehr anständige und zuvorkommende Familie kennen-gelernt. Wir bitten Euch daher, sie damitsprechend zu behandeln. Heil Hitler!
Hammberger, Feldw, 23599 A.[18]
[18] O.U. 1 July 1941. Comrades. We lived with the Epstein family for a long time and got to know them and they are a very respectable and obliging family. We therefore ask you to treat them accordingly. Heil Hitler!
I still don't know where my wife is. The children are in good health, as for me, I am still standing.
Thank you for everything, my dear friend. Perhaps it would be helpful if you could discuss all this with the Count de Chambrun[19] and Morand. Best wishes, Michel.
[19] Count René de Chambrun was a lawyer and son-in-law of Pierre Laval, whose only daughter, Josée, he married. (Editor)
27 July 1942
? to Michel Epstein
Are there in your wife's works, apart from the scene in Vin de Solitude, passages from novels, short stories or articles that could be pointed out as clearly anti-Soviet?
27 July 1942
Michel Epstein to André Sabatier
I received your letter of Saturday today. Thank you so very much for all your efforts. I know that you are doing and will do everything you can to help me. I have patience and courage. I just pray that my wife has the physical strength necessary to bear this blow! What is very difficult is that she must be horribly worried about the children and me, and I have no way of communicating with her since I don't even know where she is.
Please find enclosed a letter which I insist be sent to the German ambassador as a matter of URGENCY. If you could find anyone who could approach him personally and give it to him (Count de Chambrun perhaps, who, I believe, is prepared to take an interest in my wife), that would be perfect. But if you cannot find anyone able to do it QUICKLY, would you be so kind as to take it to the embassy or just post it. Thank you in advance. Of course, if this letter will upset the steps already taken, then tear it up, otherwise, I really wish it to be sent.
I fear the same thing might happen to me. In order to avoid material concerns, could you send Mlle Dumot an advance on her monthly payments for '43? I am afraid for the children.
27 July 1942
Michel Epstein to the German ambassador, Otto Abetz
I know that I am taking a great liberty in writing to you personally.
Nevertheless, I am taking this step because I believe that you alone can save my wife, my only hope lies with you.
Allow me therefore to explain to you the following: before leaving Issy, the German soldiers who were occupying the village gave me, in gratitude for the way we treated them, a letter which reads:
O.U. den I, VII, 41
Kameraden. Wir haben längere Zeit mit der Familie Epstein zusam-mengelebt und diese sehr anständige und zuvorkommende Familie kennen-gelernt. Wir bitten Euch daher, sie damitsprechend zu behandeln. Heil Hitler!
Hammberger, Feldw. 23599 A.[20]
[20] For translation, see note 18 on p. 369.
And yet, on the 13 July my wife was arrested. She was taken to the concentration camp at Pithiviers (Loiret) and, from there, sent somewhere else, but I do not know where. This arrest, I was told, was a result of general instructions given by the occupying authorities regarding the Jews.
My wife, Madame M. Epstein, is a very famous novelist, I. Némirovsky. Her books have been translated in a great many countries and two of them at least-David Golder and Le Bal-in Germany. My wife was born in Kiev (Russia) on 11 February 1903. Her father was an important banker. My father was President of the Syndicat des Banques Russes (Union of Russian Banks) and Executive Director of the Bank of Commerce of Azov-Don. Both our families lost considerable fortunes in Russia; my own father was arrested by the Bolsheviks and imprisoned in the Saint-Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. We had the greatest of difficulty in finally managing to flee Russia in 1919 and we then took refuge in France, where we have lived ever since. All this must satisfy you that we feel nothing but hatred for the Bolshevik regime.