72 years ago, France was experiencing the darkest days in its history.
On June 18, 1940, the French army no longer existed, and two-thirds of the national territory was invaded and occupied.
General de Gaulle, still unknown to the public, on a mission in London, refusing both defeat and humiliation, issued his historic call on the BBC airwaves just after Marshal Pétain’s government admitted France’s defeat, declaring that the war was not over and calling on the French to resist the German occupation with sacrifice and hope.
That day, Free France was born.
To celebrate the 72nd anniversary of this historic call, Jehan-Eric Winckler, Sub-Prefect, Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, Eric Ciotti, President of the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, presided over the commemoration of General de Gaulle’s Appeal.
During this ceremony, a joint wreath was laid at the foot of General de Gaulle’s stele located in the Villa Thiole garden.
Then, a historical presentation of this act was delivered by Pierre Morissee, departmental delegate of the Free France Foundation, while Hania Cassouls, winner of the departmental competition of the Resistance and Deportation, read the text of the June 18th Appeal, followed by the broadcast of General De Gaulle’s radio message.
The laying of wreaths, a moment of silence, the singing of the Partisans’ song and the Marseillaise, and the salute of the troops, the Honor Guard, and the Flag Bearers concluded this event, which one cannot forget, given its historical significance in an emotional atmosphere.
