Sunday, December 23, 2012

French Inscriptions Part 2

In the last few years, the French have started putting up inscriptions commemorating historical events even when they reflect badly on the French government. Madame Le Chef took this photo of a plaque mounted on a school building in the 18th Arrondissement in Paris.


It says, "To the memory of students of this school, deported from 1942 to 1944 because they were born Jews, innocent victims of Nazi barbarity and of the government of Vichy. They were exterminated in the Death Camps. More then 700 of these children lived in the 18th." Partially blocked by the flowers it also says, "Never forget them."

The final battle for control of the Paris Commune of 1871 was fought in Père Lachaise cemetery between the army of the French government, then located in Versailles, and the supporters of the Commune who held Paris. When the last 147 Communards were captured they were summarily executed by the government troops. Across the city thousands more people were executed by the troops during "bloody week".


This plaque in Père Lachaise, undoubtedly put up by Leftists, marks the site where the remains of the 147 were reburied in 1897 after being moved for the construction of reservoirs. Fédérés was another name for the Communards.


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