The « tondues » during the Liberation
Altough the « femme tondue » (woman whose head was shaved for alleged collaboration) is a powerful image of the Liberation, few studies have analysed this issue. This practice was common and widespread on French territory in 1944 and 1945. During these head shaving incidents, women's bodies were actually put on display as a means of atonement. Beyond illustrating how thepublic took the law into its own hands, however, the description of « public shaving » reflects during this period how unclear the lines were between public and private life. This theatrical public display opened the way to fantasy and sexuality. Symbolically headshaving eoisodes represented the « sin » - collaboration -, the « punishment » - purification -, and finally a « vision of the future » - the reconstruction. This study allows us to understand why these episodes occured, as well as the underlying stakes in the reappropriation of the bodies of the « tondue », specifically, and of women's bodies, in general.
Click on the link of the video ;
French women who had too many german friends loose their hair as retaliation after WWII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ySZCMcSew
One can understand the spirit of revenge but the way of doing it a little less. About or is the camp or one is , the respect of the person is important in my eyes. Humiliation in the joy of the spectators and the executants is , for me , disturbing.
Véronique