82nd anniversary of the liberation of Nice: a look back at the tributes

Nice commemorated the 82nd anniversary of its Liberation this Friday, August 28, 2026. Various local actors, ranging from the municipality to left-wing organizations and unions, paid their respects.

This Friday, August 28, Nice paid several memorial tributes to resistance fighters who died for the Liberation of Nice. For the 82nd anniversary, the UDR (Union of the Right for the Republic) municipality organized a series of commemorations to place flowers at each of the city’s memorial stones in order to pay tribute to the deceased. This memory circuit was accompanied by speeches and period military vehicles, recalling the Allies.

In parallel, several independent ceremonies took place, led by the PCF (French Communist Party) as well as LFI (France Unbowed). These initiatives aimed to recall that this celebration was carried out solely by people from Nice, and that most of the resistance fighters worked in union and popular struggles. Max Barel, grandson of Virgile Barel and nephew of Max Barel, wanted to pay tribute to them by coming down from his Drôme for this specific day.

Between memory and political commitment

At 7:30 PM the commemoration of socialists and unionists took place. After the one organized by the PCF at 6:30 PM, LFI and several organizations such as the CGT or the FPE gathered. From the Thiole garden, in front of the Jean Moulin memorial stone, Liberation Square, the ceremony continued to the level crossing memorial stone. This tribute took place to the sound of the Song of the Partisans, the Internationale, the Marseillaise and Nissa la bella. Those present were thus able to lay the flowers and wreaths that were given to them at 9 PM.

Olivier Salerno, representative of LFI 06, affirms that « speaking only of courage and a sense of duty is a rewriting of history that must not be allowed to pass because it is depoliticizing. » He also recalled what Mélina Carreau declared: the municipality is moving away from the founding values of the CNR, of which General de Gaulle was the head.

These tributes backed by political convictions were reinforced by the speech of Virgile Barel’s grandson. Max Barel, beyond paying tribute, speaks on behalf of his family regarding the municipality’s project for a Max Barel statue.

Max B. explains that he and his family are against it, and that they were not consulted on this matter. He adds: « Who on the left would want Max’s memory to be represented by a statue of a military man that could be confused with that of a colonial brute? How would the values of his commitment to a more just society be transmitted? », expressing deep disagreement on this subject, preferring the medal on site while waiting for another town hall.

A memorial circuit under the sign of transmission

Earlier in the day, starting at 8 in the morning, the municipality began its memory circuit. This 6-hour walking tour stopped at each of the commemorative plaques to honor the resistance fighters and civilians killed during this period.

At 4 PM, the mayor of Nice went to the plaques at city hall, accompanied by a delegation of schoolchildren from the city. Speaking directly to the dead, he declared: « You, resistance fighters of the shadows and of courage, you knew how to say no to the enslavement of our city by the Nazis. You enabled our city to free itself from the Nazi yoke and to reclaim its honor. »

He did not fail to recall the importance of democracy, which defeated fascism: « Democracy is a battle every day. We must transmit your ideal. Our ideal. » The commemorative day ended with a grand ceremony in honor of the memory of the resistance fighters who died for Nice, at the War Memorial of Rauba Capeù.