Lucie Soreil

Lucie Soreil

Lucie Soreil was a resident of Marcouray when war struck the Ardennes in December 1944. Aged 9, she witnessed the arrival of the American soldiers of Task Force Hogan and their encirclement by German forces.

In a village suddenly plunged into chaos, Lucie saw houses fill with soldiers, roads freeze in place, and fear settle over daily life. The men of Task Force Hogan took positions in and around the village, turning this peaceful place into a point of resistance against the German advance.

Despite the danger, some gestures remained deeply human. The American soldiers shared their food with the inhabitants. Lucie remembered in particular one soldier who came to say hello each morning, bringing a moment of comfort in a daily life marked by uncertainty.

Within her household, the situation was fragile. Lucie lived with her sister and mother, while her father had left the village by bicycle toward the Dinant region, fearing German reprisals.

She also kept vivid images in mind: American soldiers blackening their faces before leaving into the night, preparing to face the enemy in the dark.

When German forces arrived in Marcouray, the situation changed brutally. A German officer drove them out of their cellar to install his own men there. Forced to flee, Lucie, her sister and her mother left the village on foot for Ronzon, leaving behind their home and everything familiar to them.

Lucie Soreil embodies the view of a child plunged into war. Through her memories, she bears witness to fear, exile, but also to the humanity that survived at the heart of violence.