Who denounced Alfred Nakache in Toulouse? Yves Pourcher in the troubled waters of Collaboration
Professor at the IEP in Toulouse, Yves Pourcher has published numerous novels and essays. His latest work, “Brasse Papillon – le roman d’un Collabo”, which he will present on Wednesday 20 October at the Ombres blancs bookstore, has just been released by Gaussen editions. Captivating from start to finish and, as always, remarkably documented, this “Butterfly Breast” plunges into troubled waters: it is 1945, in Toulouse and the champion Jacques Cartonnet is condemned to death: he is accused of having denounced his rival Alfred Nakache, the famous “Auschwitz swimmer” …
Comment did you discover this story?
I read a story of the Collaboration and I was looking for characters from Toulouse, because I was tired of going for a run in Paris at the National Archives. I see this name, Jacques Cartonnet, famous swimmer sentenced to death by the Toulouse Court of Justice. I tell myself that there must be archives here in Toulouse. On the Internet, I find some incredible photographs: what happened to make a champion rock like this? I searched …
This is the story of an exceptional swimmer… who is never in the right place…
He undoubtedly has too many facilities at the start: an extraordinary body, which allows him to do just about anything. But also a slightly cloudy personality. We attribute to him qualities that he does not have: one day he is pushed into the water and he swims. His strength hides a great weakness… He is a formidable champion, but he hates competition and is only good against the clock: he wants to break records.
The narrative construction is fascinating: each testimony is a piece of a fascinating puzzle …
When I immersed myself in the Archives, I realized that I didn’t know anything: is this guy a bastard, a hero? A swimmer, even a collaborator, is first and foremost a swimmer: I then turned to the sports press and spent hours – confinement helped me! – to peel it. I discovered important people, like Georges Hermant, the national coach:
Toulouse plays a fundamental role : on is at Dolphin Club, to TOEC …
Swimming is very important in Toulouse: this is why Cartonnet comes here – he is considering a time to join the TOEC. During the Occupation, all the great swimmers meet in Toulouse. It’s a team of friends at the start… who will become opponents. Nakache has great physical qualities but Hermant doesn’t find him serious enough. Nakache submits to his authority, which Cartonnet will never want to do. Both find themselves in rivalry, in competition. Cartonnet can win… but loses. Everything changes: it is the entry of politics into sport.
In 1943, Nakache was deported to Auschwitz. Did Cartonnet denounce him?
In Toulouse, there are 500, maybe 1000 people who can describe Nakache. I don’t see the interest Cartonnet would have had in doing that, even if his anti-Semitism is proven. Nakache himself will never accuse him.
Once again, you are exploring this troubled period of Collaboration …
There is always a great ambiguity, you never know where the truth is… And then this character is fascinating: homosexual, he gets married and everyone is disturbed by his presence, his unique beauty. He has relations with a deputy, Renaitour, including Julien Green, in his Jjournal, will write that he maintains it …
What does this story tell us, 75 years later?
That anything is possible. That youth and beauty do not last long but that it must be accepted, which Cartonnet did not know how to do. Commentary ended? I know there is a time to hire an Italian team, but that’s it. There may be, somewhere in Italy, a box with photographs …