Researching Django Reinhardt

[andie]

I am currently researching the early life of Django Reinhardt and have hit a wall regarding his first wife Florine"Bella" Reinhardt Baumgartner.

I am trying to locate the date of her death and so far nothing is written of her, that I can find, after Django had his accident with the fire in the caravan in 1928.

Can anyone supply information, or a source to find information on this?
Much appreciated.

[vinlander]

Some infos are available here :
Django: the life and music of a Gypsy legend - Michael Dregni - Google Books

Django: the life and music of a Gypsy legend - Michael Dregni - Google Books

[andie]

Thank you vinlander, very kind of you and very useful.

Many gypsys died in concentration camps, largely eastern Europe but much of France was occupied and I can not find her fate.
I know Django spent WWII in France and tried to enter Switzerland but that attempt failed and he was lucky not to have been apprehended.

DO you have this book? and does it mention her later life and death?

[vinlander]

Originally Posted by andie

Thank you vinlander, very kind of you and very useful.

Many gypsys died in concentration camps, largely eastern Europe but much of France was occupied and I can not find her fate.
I know Django spent WWII in France and tried to enter Switzerland but that attempt failed and he was lucky not to have been apprehended.

DO you have this book? and does it mention her later life and death?

Unfortunately I can't tell if these informations are in the book as I don't have it; I just stumbled on that while googling.

[fumblefingers]

Originally Posted by andie

Thank you vinlander, very kind of you and very useful.

Many gypsys died in concentration camps, largely eastern Europe but much of France was occupied and I can not find her fate.
I know Django spent WWII in France and tried to enter Switzerland but that attempt failed and he was lucky not to have been apprehended.

DO you have this book? and does it mention her later life and death?

i believe that he was apprehended and was taken prisoner. a german colonel recognized him and had him pulled aside. he then was required to play music for Nazis. i don' know if he was released prior to the end of the war or not. i saw this on a TV documentary ("Django mania" or something like that). Anyway, Toots Thielamans commented on the part about playing for the Nazis - bottom line - that it wasn't Django's fault, he had to do it to survive.

[andie]

That is interesting and the first I had heard that he was indeed apprehended. No one could possibly blame him for doing what he had to to survive, who wouldn't ?

I still can not find a date of death on Florine. I am curious if she survived after 1951. I know he died in 53. I have written an author on him and hope to get a reply in a few days, but will see. I'll share if I get anything.

I wish there were some way to write the family to clear it up.

[bibi]

Originally Posted by andie

I am currently researching the early life of Django Reinhardt and have hit a wall regarding his first wife Florine"Bella" Reinhardt Baumgartner.

I am trying to locate the date of her death and so far nothing is written of her, that I can find, after Django had his accident with the fire in the caravan in 1928.

Can anyone supply information, or a source to find information on this?
Much appreciated.

There is more about his second wife NADINE. Son Babik.
Well you asked for it. Have fun reading

[andie]

Thanks bibi, I know and am very appreciative of any information.
I am finding his later life better documented and that does make sense owing to his career in later life. Seems odd that something is not mentioned however.
As so many gypsies were apprehended in the occupation of France and taken to camps, I do wonder. yet surely something that tragic would be mentioned as Louson, his first son, would have surely said something.

As always, I am grateful for any leads.

[bibi]

Originally Posted by andie

Thanks bibi, I know and am very appreciative of any information.
I am finding his later life better documented and that does make sense owing to his career in later life. Seems odd that something is not mentioned however.
As so many gypsies were apprehended in the occupation of France and taken to camps, I do wonder. yet surely something that tragic would be mentioned as Louson, his first son, would have surely said something.

As always, I am grateful for any leads.

His first sun did have some recordings but Django did not bother with him.
I guess he was not good as a guitar player.
about the survival of Django see also URL Nuages
There was a difference. Gypsies with an address (Haus or Appartment) were not picked up.

Have fun