Audio file 70-1

[They are speaking of the end of the war] Ernest was released from the camp at the end of August and returned to his atelier at Giacometti' studio where Sonja had been staying

Handwritten on the back of Ernest's St Denis identity card is his release date, 26 August 1944

Wonga recalls Sonja speaking of going to St Denis for Ernest's release, that street by street was controlled by the Germans and the Resistance, and Paris was in confusion

Wonga continues with the return of not just Ernest but also Giacometti, Pototschnig and Lopez. Ernest said that Lopez had been fighting in Spain against Franco and escaped into France - Wonga corrects that Gustav Munch-Petersen did not escape and was killed

Wonga retells Sonja describing an incident about Munch-Petersen, at Bornholm, when Richard Mortensen jokingly proposed jumping into a lake Munch-Petersen did, that the action was a symbol of Munch-Petersen's attitude including in Spain

Wonga turns to Lopez fighting for the Spanish Republic, escaped to France; Wonga recalls that Sonja told him that Lopez and his son were forced labourers in Germany, that the son was in Dresden when the Allies firebombed it and was killed; Ernest and Wonga debate how Lopez returned to Paris and how Sonja knew him and he became dear to her for his resilience

Wonga asks about Ernest's working in an American camp; they discuss that although Sonja received some money from Denmark, it was not enough; Ernest explains that an acquaintance [Benjamin] who was working with the American army suggested it, and that he was accepted because he spoke English and worked in a storehouse

Ernest recalls how he came to be wounded: that French workers who were striking were disrupting the unloading of food from Le Havre to Paris meant for the American army, Ernest's job was to record the incoming packages

[tape stopped and restarts] Wonga asks about the French workers and Ernest says he was not in the workers' union; Ernest saw the workers being marched by the police to the station; Wonga speaks of hardships of workers

[tape stopped and restarts] they argue whether Ernest is a labourer or no; Wonga asks about uniforms and boots

Wonga recounts Ernest falling asleep on his metro journey from being so tired - asks for location of the warehouse [Porte Clignancourt or Porte de la Chapelle] but Ernest can only recall it was north [Wonga speaks in English and French]

Ernest recalls one journey when a young boy would not give up his seat for an old man because he blames the old for letting the Germans into France; Wonga notes that during the German occupation of France, the French were told they were fortunate to be governed by les nobles viellards (noble elders) [Wonga speaks in English and French]

[tape ends]