Ever wonder who Maurice Thorez was? Avenue Maurice Thorez in Ivry-sur-Seine pays homage to this French politician. It is near Paris. This avenue follows the D 156A route.
Let’s explore this avenue’s story. The Avenue Maurice Thorez got its name on September 15 1964. It honors Maurice Thorez a significant figure in French politics.
The avenue’s path is visible on the Cassini map from the 17th century. It ran north-northeast from the church. It slightly veered left toward the old Choisy road which is now Verdun Avenue.
In the 20th century Avenue Maurice Thorez was among 159 routes into Paris. Photographer Eustachy Kossakowski captured it in his series “6 meters before Paris” in 1971.
Underneath Avenue Maurice Thorez lies a network of underground quarries. It is called the Delacroix quarry named after a former owner. These quarries stretch to the Ivry fort.
Several notable places are along Avenue Maurice Thorez. The Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul church is at the corner of Gaston-Cornavin. This church was first mentioned in 1158. The Nocturlabe a work by Claude Viseux from 1987 stands at the corner of Barbès Street.
A building of the Gendarmerie Nationale is also found here. Architect Ferrand built it around 1900. It is listed in the inventory under number IA00130030.
In 1912 anarchist Antoine Gauzy was arrested at his home on Avenue Maurice Thorez at number 63. He was a member of the Bonnot gang. Singer Jean Ferrat lived at number 129 until 1966. A square along the avenue commemorates him.
The old cemetery cross is located at the Pierre-and-Marie-Curie metro station. This is according to Roussel’s map from 1731. The Avenue Maurice Thorez has the Gendarmerie Nationale building constructed around 1900 and the church.
Maurice Thorez led the French Communist Party for many years. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of France. Thorez was born in Noyelles-Godault in 1900. He started as a coal miner at age 12. He joined the French Section of the Workers’ International in 1919.
In 1932 Thorez was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. He helped form the Popular Front in 1934. This alliance won the 1936 election.
After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 the French Communist Party resisted the German occupation. Articles by Thorez appeared in the underground newspaper. After the liberation of France in 1944 Thorez received a pardon.
After World War II Thorez returned to France. He became vice premier of France in 1946. He died in 1964. Avenue Maurice Thorez stands as a reminder of his life. It is also a testament to Ivry-sur-Seine’s rich history.