Some Mittelbau-Dora prisoners were allowed to write postcards home and receive letters. Heavily self-censored and translated into German the postcards were a fine lifeline that connected prisoners to their families. Françoise Dupré’s family have kept her uncle’s postcards written to his mother. For Robert Berthelot the cards were a proof of his deportation. Today, the cards allow to retrace Robert’s journey through the different camps: from Compiègne in France to Buchenwald and Dora in Germany. Inspired by these postcards a participatory postcard project was set up (2015-2016).
Françoise Dupré and Rebecca Snow wanted to hear from V2 London victims whose families and neighbourhood were hit by V2 rockets. Participants at project’s events and exhibition visitors were invited to write their testimonies and comments.
Postcard could also be downloaded from DORA PROJECT website and posted to the project’s mailbox. Allowing a wider number of individual to participate.
The postcards were exhibited at Peckham Platform and a space was allocated for postcard writing. An activity for young people, around the postcard project, was designed by Peckham Platform. The cards were pinned on hanging black and red ribbons.
The display also included some of DORA PROJECT’s badges given to participants at Commemorative Public Events.
© Françoise Dupré.
Last postcard instructing Robert’s mother to use a new address.
The circle number 10 is the secret code for Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp with its underground V2 factory
© Robert Berthelot Archives
Dora Project 