EN
The author of the article describes the previously unknown story of Gurs camp founded in 1939, in southern France. The existence of internment camps on the territory of France was a shameful card during the Second World War in this country. The camp in Gurs was established near the border with Spain by the French authorities in April 1939. The camp was originally intended for Spanish citizens. In May 1940, after German invasion of France, the Vichy state administration changed its use . It became " half penal camp" to which foreign nationals of Jewish origin were sent. Since 1942, when the Germans decided to "solve the Jewish question", the French authorities deported internees in transports, "in an unknown direction" to death camps on the Polish territory. After the war Vichy government collaborators were sent to Gurs camp. Today, the site is the camp's mausoleum.