Sunday, July 7, a tribute was paid to two martyrs of the Resistance. The ceremony took place at the corner of Jean-Médecin Avenue, in front of their memorial.
Every year, the memory of Séraphin Torrin and Ange Grassi is commemorated by Nice and the village of Gattières. These two men, communist resistance fighters, were hanged by the Nazis on July 7, 1944, in Nice.
An emotional third-grade student reads the tribute paid to them. She recalls that Resistance fighters from the Alpes-Maritimes were massacred “in Saint-Julien-du-Verdon, Utelle, Bar-sur-Loup, Gourdon, Cannes, Grasse, and Sospel.”
In June 1944, the resistance fighters went on the offensive. The German High Command “decided to make a strong impact to frighten the population.” It was in this context that a unit of SS invaded the village of Gattières and seized Ange Grassi and Séraphin Torrin.
At their home, Nazi forces found two pistols. Tortured to extract information about their leader and fellow fighters, the Resistance members remained silent.
On July 7, around 4 p.m., the Germans hanged the Freedom fighters.
## Who Are These Martyrs to Whom Tribute Is Paid?
Séraphin Torrin is a farmer in the municipality of Gattières; Ange Grassi is an Italian mason. Communist militants, they belonged to the local formation of the free shooters and partisans. With their men, Séraphin Torrin and Ange Grassi participated in attacks on enemy convoys, causing damage.
For their actions of Resistance, they were hanged at that time, on this main thoroughfare called [Victory Avenue](https://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media6972-Stle-la-mmoire-de-Sraphin-Torrin-Nice-Alpes-Maritimes), now Jean-Médecin.
Find [here](https://www.nicepremium.fr/actualite/programme-des-80-ans-de-la-liberation-de-nice/) the upcoming events for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Nice.
