Testimony: War, there is nothing worse: At 108 years old, Jean Turco dives back into his memories as a soldier prisoner during World War II.

At 108 years old, Jean Turco, the oldest man in France, can still walk almost unaided and continues to live in his home in Paris. On the occasion of May 8, 2026, the anniversary of the Victory of the Allies in 1945, the centenarian delves precisely into his memories as a former soldier, imprisoned by the Germans for five years.

Published on May 8, 2026 at 07:05, updated at 14:37, with a reading time of 3 minutes.

Today, at the age of 108 and the eldest of the French, Jean Turco was born in 1917 in Villejuif to Italian parents. He became a naturalized French citizen at the age of 15 after agreeing to serve two years in the military. “I found myself in the army a year before the declaration of war,” he recalls. During the autumn and winter of 1939, he was in Alsace, near the German border, without much happening until May.

During the brief Battle of France in 1940, he was injured in Épinal by shrapnel while transporting ammunition, leaving a significant scar on his arm. Due to a lack of available doctors, an intern in training treated and removed the shrapnel. Facing the advancing Nazi troops, like hundreds of thousands of other French soldiers, Turco received orders to surrender his weapons. This led to his capture and imprisonment by the Germans for five years, where he worked in a German precision mechanical factory.

Turco recalls his experiences in the prisoner-of-war camp, where he could momentarily forget his situation through work. While he could have joined an “Oflag” as an engineer, where officers were not allowed to work, Turco preferred to stay busy. He tried to escape twice but was caught both times, resulting in periods of isolation. Despite the difficulties, the factory needed his expertise and he was brought back each time.

Upon his return home in 1945 after five years of captivity, many French soldiers, including Turco, were met with mixed reactions. They felt marginalized and forgotten in favor of more celebrated figures like de Gaulle and the Resistance. Turco’s post-war life saw him become a dealer, labor union leader in the automotive industry, and a deputy in Paris in the 1970s, with three children and three marriages. Now, at 108 years old, Turco expresses concern for the future, especially over the possibility of another war.

Despite his age, Turco stays informed daily on his laptop and even uses a smartphone to send text messages, albeit slowly. He remains active and engaged, showcasing a determination and resilience that have defined his long and varied life.