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 part of the project’s exhibition exhibited at Peckham Platform where a space was allocated for postcard writing. Activities for young people, around the postcard project, were designed by Peckham Platform. The cards were pinned on hanging black and red ribbons.
The display also included some of the project’s badges given to participants at Commemorative Public Events.
Postcards sent by Robert Berthelot to his mother. The card shows Buchenwald concentration camp official address – Dora was at the time a sub-camp of Buchenwald.
Facsimiles of Robert’s cards were shown in DOAR PROJECT Exhibition as part of the project archives installation.
© Robert Berthelot Archive.
On the last postcard received by his mother, Robert instructs her 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 