Monday, November 20, 2023

A duty of memory

 by Pierre Grange (level B2) 

 

 


Visiting the Museum of Resistance and Deportation

 

Friday November 17, the UIAD and the Grenoble-Oxford Alliance organised a visit (all in English!) to the Museum of Resistance and Deportation of the department of Isère.

All UIAD English students were invited. 

This museum has been located since 1994 on rue Hébert in Grenoble.

It will move in two years to the old Grenoble courts, place du Palais de justice. 

This visit was very informative.

We were accompanied by a French guide who spoke English very well. She was very clear and we understood easily. Thanks to her! 

The museum is dedicated to the Second World War and reminds visitors of the time of Resistance in the department of Isère during this period.

Part of the museum is also dedicated to the Deportation. 

The guide explained to us how great were the sufferings and sacrifices of those who courageously committed to allowing the return of the Republic.

Many of them were victims of repression and deportation.

We were also struck by the high degree of anti-semitism that spread during this period.

Unfortunately, 80 years later, current events show us that history can repeat itself...

 

The city of Grenoble played a central role for the resistance groups.

Several other French sites have also marked the history of the Second World War, particularly through their resistance to the enemy.

To reward them, General de Gaulle created the Order of National Liberation.

But it rewarded very few cities. Only five received the Liberation medal:

*Paris,

*Nantes,

*Grenoble (you can see the medal in the hall of honour of the Town Hall),

*Vassieux (in memory of the Resistance in the Vercors and the civilian victims of the German army),

*The island of Sein (in memory of the many inhabitants of this island who left to join General de Gaulle in London).

 

For us, the visit was a moment full of emotion. This museum questions the visitor about the lessons that our society can learn from history.

So let's not have a short memory!



 

 

 

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The party is over but...

 ...we had a lot of fun! Thank you to Pierre Grange and Nicole Morel for these photos and videos!