76 ing to the centres of culture in Marseille which offered them protection from the Nazis. Marseille seemed to be the last resort for freedom seekers on the Mediterranean. The intellectual and artistic life during the truce period had shaky foundations which were not to withstand the formidable challenges ahead. Still, it was the glamour of hope in the sea of darkness that was to swallow Marseille when the German tanks, on 11 November 1942, swept the city of Marseille. The torch was extinguished, and all cultural activities began to diminish to oblivion. The schools, institutes and colleges turned into military barracks for the German troops. Stringent censorship was imposed on the press and all other cultural institutions. Marseille became a wasteland for the intellect under the occupation. The refugees and the families under threat began to flee from Marseille to neighbouring areas or to exile. Marseille was no longer able to carry on its role as a cultural haven. Following liberation, Marseille started to nurse its wounds and was keen to restore its freedom to create and innovate leading to a true revival of enlightenment and decentralisation. In its endeavours towards a true renaissance, Marseille consolidated its cultural preparations through the establishment of • A 20,000 m2 library, • 40 theatre groups that transformed the deserted commercial warehouses to theatres providing their audience every evening with performances that range across the entire spectrum of theatre topics.
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