Established in 1961, the National Resistance and Deportation Competition (CNRD) aims to perpetuate the memory of the Resistance and deportation among third-year middle school students and high school students.
As an essential vehicle for transmitting memory, the National Resistance and Deportation Competition also provides students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of certain fundamental aspects of World War II history.
Participation in the competition, which is voluntary, allows students to draw civic lessons for their lives today. It is also an opportunity for them to reflect on the historical dimension of these events.
The theme for the 2014-2015 edition is “The Liberation of Nazi Camps, the Return of Deportees and the Discovery of the Concentration Camp Universe.”
Six categories of prizes, both individual and collective, are awarded.
In the Alpes-Maritimes, it was Prefect Adolphe Colrat who partnered with the leaders of former resistance associations to present the awards at the Prefectural Palace, in the presence of recipients, representatives from various schools, and their families who filled the hall of honor.
In his speech, the State representative recalled the spirit of the Resistance following General De Gaulle’s appeal on June 18 and cited as examples the four figures who were recently inducted into the Panthรฉon.
This 2014-15 edition broke the participation record of “these memory transmitters,” increasing from 418 participants with 121 awarded in 2014 to 575 participants and 168 winners.
Special mention goes to Alex Freu, a senior at Lycรฉe Massรฉna, who received the 1st individual prize and demonstrated remarkable maturity during the thank-you speech.
