The transport was scheduled to depart from the Portet-Saint-Simon train station with 515 Jews from camps in the surrounding area. This was a collective transport that made several stops to pick up more Jews in other camps on its way towards the Drancy camp in the occupied zone. Upon completion of the transport approximately, 1,300 in all were ready for deportation. The vast majority of them were men of German, Polish and Austrian nationality who had been previously detained in GTEs (Groupes de travailleurs étrangers, Foreign Workers Groups). These GTEs had been established by the Vichy government in 1940 in order to intern those whom they referred to as “foreigners who represent a burden on the economy”. This was part of the plan to detain all foreign Jews from the unoccupied zone. Only those financially stable and able to pay were permitted to stay in specific areas termed ‘assigned residences’. By 1942, Jews represented 50% of those detained in the GTEs.
The transport of August 24 from the Portet-Saint-Simon train station was composed of several smaller transports that departed from local camps towards the Portet-Saint-Simon train station where they were all assembled and prepared for their departure towards the occupied zone.
62 men assembled in the Casseneuil camp in the Lot-et-Garonne Department departed from the Penne d’Agenais train station on August 23 at 19:35 for the Portet-Saint-Simon station....