A chilling wind whispers through the Parisian streets. It carries the echoes of a tragic story. Right here before us stands the Paul et Gisèle Laguesse Plaque. This unassuming memorial speaks volumes. It tells of unwavering courage in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
The plaque commemorates Paul and Gisèle Laguesse. They were members of the French Communist Party. Their lives were tragically cut short during World War II. The Nazis murdered them. Their story is one of resistance and resilience. It’s a reminder of the dark days of occupation. It highlights the sacrifice of ordinary people who fought for freedom.
Paul an elementary school teacher in Gagny was a founding member of the French Communist Party in the 1920s. Gisèle a secretary worked tirelessly for the party. She also belonged to the World Committee of Women Against War and Fascism.
In August 1940 Paul and Gisèle joined the Resistance. They secretly sheltered leaders of the National Front. They acted as couriers. They relayed messages intercepted from Radio London and Radio Moscow. They even printed leaflets on a mimeograph machine.
Their clandestine activities caught the attention of the authorities. On March 2 1942 police arrested them at their home in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. A comrade Pierre Villon managed to escape. He jumped from the first floor into the garden.
After weeks of interrogation Paul was handed over to the Germans. Gisèle was imprisoned at La Santé prison in Paris. Later she was transferred to the Fort de Romainville.
On January 24 1943 Gisèle was among 230 women deported to Auschwitz. They arrived at Birkenau singing the Marseillaise. She bore the number 31667. She died there on March 11 1943 succumbing to dysentery. The plaque’s date is incorrect. Paul was executed on September 21 1942 as a hostage at the Fort du Mont-Valérien.
Their story isn’t just about suffering. It is about devotion to ideals even in the face of death. It speaks of a family’s dedication to freedom. Paul’s brother Lucien was also deported and died at Ellrich. Paul’s sister Germaine survived Ravensbrück and Mauthausen. She carried the memory of her brother and sister-in-law. She witnessed their bravery. She carried their legacy until her death in 1975.
The Paul et Gisèle Laguesse Plaque is more than a memorial. It is a testament to their sacrifice. It serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. It honors the resistance fighters who fought against tyranny. Let’s remember their names their bravery and their story.