Editing Georges Simenon (section)

=== Second World War, 1939{{En dash}}1945 ===
Simenon was in a café in La Rochelle when France declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939.<ref name=":22"/> In May 1940, Germany invaded Belgium, and La Rochelle became the reception centre for Belgian refugees. The Belgian government appointed Simenon Commissioner for Refugees, and he organised the reception, accommodation, and food and health needs for some 55,000 war refugees before the armistice of 22 June. By August, all Belgian refugees had been repatriated and Simenon resumed civilian life in his new home at [[Fontenay-le-Comte|Fontenay-le-Compte]] in the Vendée.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 184-189</ref>

Later in 1940, a local doctor examined Simenon and diagnosed a serious heart illness, advising him to cut back on his favourite pastimes of pipe smoking, excessive eating, alcohol, and sex. Simenon began working on his memoirs ''Je me souviens'' (I remember), intended as a letter to his son from a father who would soon be dead.  A second medical opinion was later sought, and Simenon was assured his heart was sound.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 192-95</ref>

Simenon returned to writing Maigret stories and novels, completing two in 1940 and three in 1941. He also wrote longer novels such as ''Pedigree,'' a fictionalised reworking of ''Je me souviens''. As a popular, non-Jewish author who avoided war themes and anti-German sentiments, Simenon had few problems in having his works published at a time of censorship and paper restrictions.<ref>Marnham (1994). p 199</ref>

Among his major works written during the war years are ''[[La Veuve Couderc|La veuve Couderc]]'' (''The Widow Couderc'') (1942), ''Le fuite de M. Monde (Monsieur Monde Vanishes'') (published 1945), and ''Pedigree'' (published 1948)''.''<ref>Marnham (1994). p. 202</ref> Simenon also conducted correspondence, most notably with André Gide. Gide considered ''La veuve Couderc'' superior to [[Albert Camus|Camus']] ''[[The Stranger (Camus novel)|The Stranger]]'' which was published around the same time and has a similar main character and themes.<ref>Marnham (1994). p. 221</ref><ref name="Theroux2">{{cite book |last=Theroux |first=Paul |title=Figures in a Landscape: People & Places |date=2018 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Eamon Dolan |isbn=9780544870307 |location=New York |pages=95–106}}</ref>

During the war, Simenon sold the film rights to five of his novels to [[Continental Films]], which was funded by the German government and banned the participation of Jews. The Continental production of Simenon's ''Les inconnus dans la maison'' (''Strangers in the House'') had exaggerated anti-Semitic themes which are not in the novel. Resistance underground newspapers began attacking Continental Films and anyone who took their money.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 206-08</ref>

In 1942, the French ''[[Commissariat-General for Jewish Affairs|Commissariat-Géneral aux Questions Juives]]'' notified Simenon that they suspected him of being Jewish and gave him one month to prove he was not. Simenon was able to obtain the necessary certificates of birth and baptism through his mother, and soon after the Simenons moved to a more remote village in the Vendée.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 200-01</ref>

In 1944, Régine discovered Simenon's long-term affair with Boule, and Simenon also confessed to his numerous other affairs. The couple agreed to remain married for the sake of their child, but to give each other their sexual freedom.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 209-10</ref>

In November 1944, following the German retreat, Simenon, Marc and Boule moved to a hotel in the resort town of [[Les Sables-d'Olonne|Les Sables d'Olonne]], while Régine returned to their house near La Rochelle which had now been evacuated by the Germans. In January 1945, Simenon was placed under house arrest by the police and the [[French Forces of the Interior]] on suspicion of collaboration. After three months of investigations, he was cleared of all charges.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 214-16</ref>

Simenon went to Paris in May 1945 while Marc and Boule returned to their house near La Rochelle with Régine. Simenon, possibly out of concern that the [[French Communist Party]] might take over France, had decided to move to America. The rest of the family soon joined him in Paris and Simenon used his contacts to secure the required travel documents for America. Régine, however, refused to travel to America with Marc unless Boule stayed behind in France. Simenon reluctantly agreed to Régine's demand.<ref>Marnham (1994). pp. 218-20, 223-24</ref>