Here at the Esplanade Jean Moulin, we honor a pivotal figure in French history. This esplanade carries the name of Jean Moulin, a hero of the French Resistance during World War II.
Jean Moulin was born on June 20 1899. He was a French civil servant. Moulin became a hero of the Resistance during World War II.
After studying law Jean Moulin entered the civil service. He became the youngest subprefect in 1930. By 1937 he became the youngest prefect in France. He governed the Eure-et-Loir département.
In 1940 the Germans occupied his département. Moulin refused to sign a document. It described atrocities by the French army. He tried to commit suicide rather than comply.
Moulin joined the Resistance after being removed from his position. He escaped to England. In January 1942 he returned to France. He served as General Charles de Gaulle’s delegate general for the unoccupied zone.
Moulin played a key role. He helped organize the Maquis. These French guerrillas fought the Germans. He aided in the development of the National Council of the Resistance. This council coordinated noncommunist resistance groups in France. It secured their loyalty to de Gaulle’s Free French movement. Jean Moulin became the council’s first chairman in May 1943.
His skills made him a legendary figure. The Gestapo arrested Jean Moulin near Lyon in June 1943. He was tortured. He died on a train to Germany on July 8 1943.
The avenue Jean Moulin itself has a rich history. It follows part of an old road. This road dates back to the early 18th century. It was known as the “chemin de Mon Rouge” in 1708. By 1730 it appeared on the Roussel plan. It was labeled as the “grand chemin de Chevreuse passant dans Châtillon”.
The avenue Jean Moulin has been renamed over time. Initially it was the avenue de Châtillon. This name reflected its direction towards the town of Châtillon. In 1965 it was renamed to honor Jean Moulin. This renaming recognized his contribution to France.
Several notable buildings dot the avenue Jean Moulin. No. 33 marks the start of the square de Châtillon. This public area opened in 1928. The novelist Dominique Rolin lived at No. 36 from 1947. The sculptress Germaine Richier also lived there around the same time. Clarisse Lévy-Kinsbourg had her home and studio there from 1926 to 1959.
From June 1980, Nos. 40-44 housed an artistic squat. Artists occupied a former industrial joinery. They sought to convert it into studios. The city razed the buildings one morning.
The story of Jean Moulin is one of courage and sacrifice. He embodies the spirit of the French Resistance. As you stand on the Esplanade Jean Moulin remember his dedication to freedom. His legacy continues to inspire generations.