The Light of Remembrance
🕯️ A legacy to preserve, a history to clarify 🕯️
On 15 May 1944, 878 men were torn from their families and left Drancy for a journey of no return to Lithuania and Estonia. To this day, a dark veil shrouds their story.
878 shattered destinies
The reasons for their deportation, their conditions of survival, and the circumstances of their disappearance remain unknown. These souls await for their story to be revealed.
Our mission
We are committed to uncovering these secrets of history to restore a face and dignity to each of these 878 souls. Our duty is to preserve their memory and pass on their story to future generations.
We need you!
Your support is essential. Every contribution, every participation strengthens our historical research and memorial actions. Together, let us give a voice back to those whom history has too long silenced.
If you wish to participate, please send us an email at convoi73.communique@gmail.com, specifying your address to receive your tax receipt.
Our Mission 🚂
878 Interrupted Stories 🕊️
878 lives. 878 shattered destinies. On 15 May 1944, these men left Drancy, embarked on a convoy towards the unknown, towards Lithuania and Estonia. Their voices fell silent, but their memory lives within us. Today, we are committed to shedding light on the obscure areas of their history and breaking the silence that surrounds their fate. 🕊️
A Collaboration of Determined Experts
This essential project arises from the union between the Association of Families and Friends of the Deportees of Convoy 73 and Yahad-In Unum. Our association, strong with its 300 passionate members and deep historical expertise, aligns with Yahad-In Unum's rigorous and proven methodology. Together, we conduct meticulous research to retrace the journey and honour the memory of each of the 878 deportees of Convoy 73.
A project for History, a duty to Humanity 📚
Our commitment to preserving the memory of the 878 deportees of Convoy 73 unfolds through several complementary phases:
Field Investigations (2025) 🏺
Dive into archives and local inquiries. We will conduct meticulous investigations with local communities to find the last direct and indirect witnesses of Convoy 73. Our team will also interview Lithuanian descendants and institutional actors to reconstruct this tragic page of History.
Archaeological Research (2026)
Archaeology in service of memory. In collaboration with specialists from the University of Birmingham, we will conduct non-invasive archaeological investigations on the Pravieniškės sites. These respectful methods will help to shed light on the fate of the deportees without disturbing these places of remembrance.
Audiovisual Transmission 🎥
A documentary to make their voices resonate. This Franco-Lithuanian co-production, carried out between 2025 and 2026, will immortalise our research and give a face to these 878 shattered destinies. This film will be an essential educational tool to raise awareness among future generations.
Written Memory 📖
A publication to enshrine their memory. A reference work will document all our discoveries and pay tribute to each deportee of Convoy 73. This collective work will perpetuate their memory and affirm our commitment: no name must fall into oblivion.
An Unprecedented Field Mission 🚶♂️
Our team is mobilising for an unprecedented historical exploration in the footsteps of Convoy 73.
August 2025
In August 2025, a multidisciplinary team of experts, comprising seasoned scientists, passionate researchers, renowned historians, and dedicated members of memorial associations, will travel to Lithuania for 10 days of in-depth investigations into the traces of Convoy 73.
A Team Dedicated to Historical Truth
This exceptional mission will mobilise around fifteen specialists, fully dedicated to meticulously exploring local archives, precisely mapping historical sites, and carefully collecting the last testimonies from residents. Each discovery will help reconstruct the tragic journey of the deportees and honour their long-neglected memory.
Rigorous Methodology
Our approach combines archival research, digital mapping, and oral history to accurately reconstruct this dark chapter of European history.
Mission in Lithuania: Unprecedented Revelations ✨
From 25th August to 1st September 2025, our team conducted an intensive field mission in Lithuania. Moving testimonies and in-depth research in local archives have brought to light unprecedented facts about Convoy 73, providing crucial details on the fate of the deportees.
These discoveries significantly enrich our historical understanding and help to give a voice back to those who were silenced.
Institutional Recognition 🏛️
On December 17, 2025, the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Paris hosted a memorial evening dedicated to the deportees of Convoy 73, organized with Yahad-In Unum and the Association of families and friends of the deportees of Convoy 73.
A Solemn Tribute
The evening paid tribute to the 878 Jews of France deported in 1944 from the Drancy camp to Kaunas and Tallinn, and presented the first results of research dedicated to documenting their fate in Lithuania.
Voices That Matter
Ambassador Arnoldas Pranckevičius recalled the importance of memory, justice and reconciliation. The interventions of Father Patrick Desbois and Alexis Halpérin marked this evening of remembrance.
Music as Testimony
Pianist Dimitri Malignan performed works by Pál (Paul) Hermann, a Hungarian Jewish composer and victim of the Holocaust — a moment of memory and testimony of rare intensity.
Fundraising Appeal: Lituiania October 2026 🚀
Building on the results of Phase 1 and the institutional recognition obtained, we are launching our second fundraising appeal to finance Phase 2 of our mission. To date, thanks to your donations, we have raised 6000 €. We are still seeking 20 000 € to carry out this crucial stage.
Non-invasive drone field research
Technical aerial surveys will confirm or refute the working hypotheses established during Phase 1, without any disturbance to the sites. A rigorous and respectful scientific approach.
Launch of Phase 2 of the documentary
We are beginning the second part of our film project: filming, interviews and collection of new, previously unheard testimonies from survivors, descendants and witnesses.
New testimonies
Collecting accounts from survivors, descendants and witnesses will enrich our collective memory and give a voice to those whom History has silenced for too long.
This phase requires greater resources. Your support today is tomorrow's History.
A voice from the past that calls out to us
The living and precious memory
Each collected testimony brings us closer to the historical truth of Convoy 73 and gives a human face to this often-unknown tragedy.
Poignant excerpt from the testimony of Henri Zajdenwerger, last survivor of Convoy 73: "I speak for those who can no longer do so. So that their silence is not in vain, so that their memory endures beyond oblivion." 🗣️
Archives and collective memory
Each document found constitutes an essential piece of the historical puzzle, allowing us to reconstruct the journey and honour the memory of the 878 deportees of Convoy 73.
Our unwavering commitment to historical truth
The testimonies and archives we preserve are not mere documents – they represent our duty of remembrance and our responsibility to transmit this history to future generations, so that the victims of Convoy 73 never fall into oblivion.
The memory of Convoy 73 continues to live through our collective actions and our determination to preserve their history.
Why your support is vital 💖
Your contribution is essential to fulfilling our mission of preserving memory and transmitting history to future generations.
Time is running out ⏳
The last direct witnesses are gradually disappearing, taking with them irreplaceable testimonies and essential fragments of our collective past.
Respectful preservation 🗺️
Thanks to technological advancements, we can now precisely map the sites of their martyrdom, honouring their memory without disturbing these historical locations.
European history 🇪🇺
The history of this convoy constitutes a crucial yet little-known chapter of our common European heritage, the teaching of which remains fundamental today.
Your participation, an act of remembrance 🕯️
Time flows inexorably. Join our mission to preserve historical truth and honour the memory of those who perished.
Accessible minimum donation
Your support is invaluable, starting from just 10 euros. Every contribution, regardless of its size, strengthens our collective memorial edifice.
Significant tax advantage
For French residents, 66% of your donation is deductible from your income tax, further valuing your commitment.
The urgency to act now
Every day that passes takes with it precious testimonies. Your immediate contribution helps safeguard these fragile memories for future generations. 🌟
Join Us 🤝
Today, we invite you to join our circle of remembrance. Together, let's preserve the history of Convoy 73.
Your commitment strengthens us. Every contribution, however modest, perpetuates the memory of those who disappeared.
Preserve
Methodically document historical traces before they are permanently erased.
Transmit
Create accessible educational resources for future generations.
Honour
Dignified homage to the victims through our collective work of remembrance.
Stronger, Together 🤝
Our Valuable Institutional Partners
Our essential institutional partners, including Yahad-In Unum, Families and Friends of Convoy 73, Fort IX, the University of Birmingham, and others, are vital to our mission of collective remembrance.
A Collaboration That Makes a Difference
Historical research & documentation
Guardians of memory & testimonies
Museum on Nazi crimes
University of Huddersfield
Academic research & outreach
Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah
Preserving memory. Lighting the future
Promoting Franco-Lithuanian relations
These strategic alliances amplify our impact and honourably preserve the history of the Convoy 73 deportees.
Where does your money go? 💰
We are committed to full transparency regarding the use of funds, with detailed financial reports accessible to all donors. 📊
Field Mission in Lithuania
Your support fully funds our research mission in Lithuania: international transport costs, local accommodation for the entire team, and the acquisition of specialised equipment essential for our historical investigations.
Archive Analysis and Digitisation
Your donations enable access, in-depth analysis, and high-definition digitisation of rare historical archives, thereby preserving essential testimonies about the deportees' journey for future generations.
Documentary Production
Thanks to your generosity, we can produce a professional-quality documentary and publish accessible academic works, ensuring that these important historical discoveries reach the widest possible audience.
Your donation qualifies for a significant tax deduction 📜
By supporting our association, you not only gain the satisfaction of contributing to an important cause, but also benefit from substantial tax advantages in France.
Tax Benefits in France
French legislation allows you to deduct 66% of the amount of your donation from your income tax. Specifically, a £100 donation only represents a real cost of £34 after tax deduction, while having a full impact on our mission.
Procedure for Deduction
Upon receipt of your donation, we will automatically send you an official tax receipt to attach to your tax return. This deduction applies up to 20% of your taxable income, offering a generous margin for your support.
Further Information
➡️ Consult all details on the official website (Government source precisely explaining the taxation of donations to associations in France).
Contact us for more information
Your support is precious in honouring the memory of the 878 deportees of Convoy 73. Together, we keep their memory alive and preserve their dignity throughout History.
Yahad-In-Unum Association
Association Law 1901 – SIRET No.: 48511839200037
© 2025 Yahad-In-Unum – All rights reserved.
Contact us
📧 contact@yiu.ngo
📞 +331 4288 04 39
Convoy 73