The quiet Impasse Pierre Baizet whispers secrets. It’s a small passage tucked away in Lyon’s 9th arrondissement. It’s named after Pierre Baizet a Lyon resident and resistance fighter during World War II. He wasn’t just any resistance member. He was a crucial link between Lyon and Avignon.
Pierre Baizet was a chaudronnier a coppersmith by trade. Before the war he lived in Lyon’s 9th arrondissement. He later moved to Avignon. His work as a liaison was dangerous. He risked capture every time he travelled.
He was eventually arrested in Avignon in 1944. The accusation was collaborating with the enemy. The evidence was possession of leaflets. He was imprisoned tortured in Avignon and Marseille before arriving at the infamous Montluc prison in Lyon.
A German military tribunal condemned him to death. His crime was intelligence with the enemy. He was executed along with Marcel Combe on May 15 1944. They were shot at the Doua military training ground. This was a grim place of mass executions. His body was found after the war. His sister Jeanne identified him in 1945. He rests now at the Doua national necropolis. His memory is honored by a street and a stadium in Avignon and this very impasse in Lyon.
Today Impasse Pierre Baizet is a peaceful place. It’s a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom. This quiet street holds a powerful story. It’s a story of bravery resistance and the ultimate price paid for liberty. Walk down Impasse Pierre Baizet and remember Pierre Baizet. Remember his courage and his sacrifice. The quiet of the impasse speaks volumes. It speaks of a life cut short in the fight for freedom. A life given in service to his country. A life worth remembering.