80 years have passed since the Liberation, a major anniversary marked by the heroism of French resistance fighters. To commemorate this historic event, President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the lands of the Vercors maquis, in Drôme, to pay tribute to the partisans who fought against the Nazi occupation. The Vercors, an emblematic region of the Resistance, was the scene of fierce fighting and terrible reprisals in the summer of 1944.
This symbolic place saw the birth of the Vercors maquis, the fruit of the convergence of various initiatives and ideological battles. Socialist activists from Grenoble, led by former mayor Léon Martin, united to resist Nazi oppression. At the same time, in the Vercors massif, local notables decided to create a natural sanctuary for resistance fighters, a project called “Montagnards”. These different forces joined forces to form the Vercors maquis, welcoming airdrops and organizing underground resistance.
On the ground, the operation of the maquis was complex and well organized. With a two-headed civil and military command, camps scattered throughout the forest and local teams responsible for reception and supplies, the maquisards were able to carry out sabotage actions, receive airdrops, and resist enemy troops. Beyond the camps, a whole network of civilian organizations was formed to support the fighters, recruit, produce false documents, and carry out sabotage actions.
Despite the risks incurred and the violent reprisals of the German troops, the population of Vercors was benevolent towards the resistance fighters. No major collaborationist activities, active solidarity with the resistance, and mutual understanding to fight against the occupier. The Vercors has thus become the symbol of the struggle for freedom and dignity, where the spirit of resistance triumphed over oppression.
Today, by commemorating these events and honoring the memory of the fighters of the Vercors maquis, we pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives so that France could regain its freedom. This anniversary is an opportunity to remember their courage, dedication, and commitment to an ideal of justice and freedom. The Vercors will forever be engraved in the history of the French Resistance, an unwavering symbol of the fight for human dignity.
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