I painted a nude on this old ID card from 1940s France. And then I discovered something chilling…

It appears that Petit Dereimpré was a manager at a train yard in Sotteville-lès-Rouen. The two dates stamped on this ID are June 1, 1940 and August 19, 1942. I Googled this town and the dates:

*On August 17, 1942* the US 8AF launched its first strategic bombing raid of WWII, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France.

I learned that the southern suburb of Sotteville-lès-Rouen was a major regional railroad hub that enabled the occupiers to shuttle troops from Germany into France.

I don’t know what role M. Dereimpré played, but I’ve preserved a piece of his history.