On August 28, 1944, the day Nice was liberated, 32 residents of Nice fell under enemy fire and 280 were injured in fierce street fighting. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Nice’s Liberation, a tribute is paid to these men whose courage allowed Nice to regain honor and freedom. All residents are invited to join the commemorative march and participate alongside personalities in the duty of Remembrance.
New: The Liberation Ball on Pierre Gautier Square
For the first time, as part of its program to commemorate the Liberation of Nice, the city is organizing a large, free public ball.
Hosted by Thierry Noll and his orchestra, this “yesteryear” ball will take place at Pierre Gautier Square adorned with tricolor, American, and British flags. The orchestra members will arrive in jeeps, dressed as GIs.
It will be seniors born in 1944 who welcome participants, some dressed in period attire, to launch the ball, which will be in two parts: for one hour, the orchestra will focus on the ambiance of traditional popular dances with liberation music, then until 10 p.m., they will shift to more modern tunes.
Parade of Period Military Vehicles
Starting at 11 a.m., passionate collectors from the MVCG South-East Côte d’Azur association will offer an exceptional parade of 90 vehicles, including 5 30-ton tanks and other Jeeps, Dodge vehicles, GMC, “Jimmy”, armored cars, and other military vehicles that will delight both young and old. The highlight of the day will be the flyby of a classic aircraft, a P51 Mustang, along the Promenade des Anglais.
Details of the period military vehicles parade route:
9:00 a.m.: Gathering of vehicles at the Nice MIN
10:00 a.m.: Start of the Militaria fair – Place Masséna
This exposition, organized in partnership with the MVCG South-East Côte d’Azur association, will allow you to discover and perhaps acquire various World War II artifacts: helmets, uniforms, American army forks, etc.
Free entry. All day long.
11:00 a.m.: Departure from the MIN heading to Place Masséna
– Passing by the Airport
– Promenade des Anglais
– Boulevard Gambetta
– Avenue Thiers
– Avenue Jean Médecin
Then from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., parking at Place Masséna, exhibition of military vehicles.
4:00 p.m.: Start of the parade, passing on Avenue de Verdun, Promenade des Anglais, Quai des Etats-Unis to Rauba Capeu War Memorial.
6:00 p.m.: Ceremony at Rauba Capeu War Memorial.
6:30 p.m.: Return along the Promenade des Anglais. The procession will be overflown by a P51 Mustang.
Memory Path
A Memory path is organized around plaques bearing the names of these men. Located in the streets of Nice, they are cleaned, restored, and for those that have been lost, replaced by the services of the City of Nice.
A new plaque will be inaugurated at 9:40 a.m., on Avenue Charles Lindbergh (near Paul Augier High School), paying homage to Antoine Souchon, the 32nd identified resistant, who was 51 years old and left behind a widow and three children.
Memory Circuit Route
8:00 a.m. – Fortuné Barralis, Roger Boyer, Lucien Chervin, Auguste Gouirand, Jean-Marc Ballestra – 2 Boulevard de Cessole
8:15 a.m. – Aristakes Arsomanian, Jean Autheman, Raymond Carmine – Level crossing (war memorial);
8:25 a.m. – Alphonse Cornil – 130 Boulevard Gambetta (level crossing);
8:35 a.m. – Auguste Bogniot – Place de Gaulle – corner Raiberti;
8:50 a.m. – Antoine Codaccioni – SNCF Station- Nice Ville – Avenue Thiers;
9:15 a.m. – Basile Rossi – Square Macagno, Avenue Edouard Herriot;
9:30 a.m. – Roger Simon – Garden, corner Avenue de la Californie / Avenue Saint Augustin;
9:40 a.m. – Antoine Souchon – Avenue Charles Lindbergh (Carras, near Paul Augier High School);
10:00 a.m. – Venance Cantergiani – 231 Avenue Sainte Marguerite;
10:15 a.m. – Michel Ravera – Caucade War Memorial, Square des Plateaux Fleuris, Avenue Sainte Marguerite;
10:40 a.m. – Marius Fantino – 24 Voie Romaine;
10:50 a.m. – Sauveur Bernardo – SNCF Bridge, Boulevard Armée des Alpes;
11:00 a.m. – Raymond Albin – Place Arson – corner Scaliéro/Auguste Gal;
11:10 a.m. – Antoine François Suarez – Garden, 99 Rue de Roquebillière;
11:20 a.m. – Antoine Genouillac – 42 Avenue de la République;
11:35 a.m. – Joseph Giuge – Rue Saint François de Paule – Mairie facade;
11:35 a.m. – Jean Gordolon – Rue Saint François de Paule – Mairie facade;
11:45 a.m. – Jean Morales, Jean-Marc Bobichon, Jean Badino, Auguste Arnaudo – Place du Palais / Rue de la Préfecture;
12:00 p.m. – Verdun Vial – Descente Crotti, stairs;
12:15 p.m. – Vincent Boscarolo – Place Garibaldi/ Jean Jaurès;
12:25 p.m. – Paul Vallaghé – 9 Place Garibaldi;
12:40 p.m. – Eugène Alentchenko – 2 Rue Défly;
12:50 p.m. – Jean Gironne – 8 Rue Désiré Niel
A Booklet of Resistants’ Biographies
Distributed free during the event, within schools, colleges, and high schools of the City of Nice, and veterans’ associations, this booklet presents each man in the form of an identity card with copies of period documents. It is produced by Michel Goury.
