“Remember their names” a whisper seems to say. This is the Plaque commemorative Raoul BRES et Andre DUJAT DES ALLIMES Memorial de guerre. It stands as a solemn reminder. It speaks of sacrifice during World War II. Raoul Bres and Andre Dujat des Allimes were members of the Alliance intelligence network. Both were arrested in Nice. Bres was arrested on January 5 1944 at the Hotel Acropole. Dujat des Allimes’ arrest came earlier on October 19 1943 at the same hotel. The hotel is now called the Hotel Ellington.
The plaque is more than just names on a wall. It represents a story of courage and loss. Bres a career officer served in various regiments. He was a prisoner of war in 1918. He later became a director of general supplies. Dujat des Allimes was a departmental controller of the meat service. He was also an intelligence agent. Both men were highly decorated. Both men gave their lives in service to France.
Their arrests led to their deportation. They were classified NN Nacht und Nebel. Night and Fog. This classification meant secrecy surrounding their fate. They were transferred to the Schirmeck camp. From there they were moved to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. There they were executed. Their bodies were burned in the crematorium.
Imagine the fear. Imagine the hope. Imagine the final moments. The plaque helps us remember. It keeps their memory alive. It serves as a symbol of resistance. The plaque honors their bravery. Their dedication to France’s freedom should never be forgotten. The plaque stands as a poignant testament. It stands to the ultimate price paid for liberty. It is a powerful reminder. We must never forget the horrors of war. We must always honor those who fought for freedom. This plaque in Cannes helps to ensure that we do.