During World War II, seven young Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, a teaching order that had taken charge of St. Catherine School in 1918, from Valley City found themselves far from home and unable to return to the United States. After traveling to France as part of their religious formation, they were caught in the upheaval of war as German forces occupied the country.

Between 1942 and 1944, they were detained by the German Army in Vittel and held in confiscated hotels known as “Camp Convent.” There, they lived under guard, following a structured routine of prayer, study, and daily responsibilities. With limited resources, sometimes supplemented by Red Cross aid, and with ongoing uncertainty, they adapted to camp life, including bartering for basic necessities.

In this interview. The Sisters recall their time in captivity in Occupied France. Though confined and far from home, their commitment to one another and their sense of purpose remained constant. Their experiences reflect resilience in the face of hardship and the strength that sustained them through two years of internment. Listen as they share how bartering became a part of everyday life inside the prison camp.

(Edited and condensed from recorded interview)

In the prison camp, everyday survival often depended on bartering. The Sisters recalled requesting cigarettes in their Red Cross care packages, not to smoke, but to use as currency. Cigarettes could be traded for small comforts like jam or coffee, items that were otherwise difficult to obtain.

They often exchanged cigarettes with other internees, including a woman living in the camp and a couple who had once served as caretakers nearby. In return, these individuals helped the Sisters acquire needed goods.

One woman, in particular, played a vital role. While doing laundry, she carefully hid items from the guards and smuggled supplies in and out with the washing. Through quiet acts like these, she helped provide things the Sisters could not access on their own.

Through small acts like trading, sharing, and quietly helping one another, the Sisters created a sense of community even in captivity. Their experiences show that care and compassion endured far beyond hospitals and training programs. From Valley City to prison camps around the world, it was resilience, ingenuity, and a deep commitment to others that helped people endure the hardships of war.