Editing Mercè Rodoreda (section)

====Escaping from the Nazi troops====
[[File:Pont jour.jpg|thumb|The [[Beaugency]] bridge, where Rodoreda crossed the Loire River.|right]]

Mercè Rodoreda, along with other writers who were still taking refuge in France, had to flee from Paris in mid-June 1940 due to the advance of the Germans army going in the direction of [[Orléans]] by way of [[Artenay]]. Josep Maria Esverd was able to get a truck to flee France; however, the next day the truck was requisitioned by French troops. After an unsuccessful attempt to catch a train, they had to flee south on foot. The objective was to cross the [[Loire|Loire River]] in order to enter the unoccupied area, but shortly before reaching Orleans it was found on fire and there was no bridge left on that stretch of the Loire River; consequently, they deviated from the fixed route.<ref name="mercè1" />

{{blockquote|So we started the retreat on foot for three weeks. We spent about three weeks fleeing from the Nazis and walking on French roads [...] We passed over a bridge to Beaugency, which was being mined by French gunners. It was an afternoon with a very dark and very low sky. The Germans began to bombard the bridge with scary stukes; and you could see the bombs falling and exploding nearby. [...] There were dead people on the bridge. Something terrible! So, we headed to Orleans, thinking we could rest there for a day or two, but when we got to see Orleans ... Orleans was on fire, because it had just been bombed. It was then that we slept in a country house that smelled of bad meat and sour wine, because it was evident that many people had passed by that house; and we slept there all night watching from the windows how Orleans burned.<ref>Mercè Rodoreda i Joaquín Soler Serrano (1981). 'A fondo' (Producción Televisiva). Televisión Española. Dura 00:35:14 - 00:36:46.</ref> |Mercè Rodoreda in the interview ''A fondo'' (1981)}}

For twelve days they were sheltered in a farm until the signing of the [[armistice of 22 June 1940]], after they crossed the Loire River through the town of [[Meung-sur-Loire]], which was completely destroyed. From there they traveled even further south, this time settling in [[Limoges]].<ref name="mercè1" />