Maurice Gardette Plaque

“Courageous until the very end.” Those words, etched in stone, stand as a solemn reminder of the sacrifice made by Maurice Gardette. Here, at the Maurice Gardette Plaque, we remember a man who dedicated his life to the betterment of his community and the fight against injustice. The Maurice Gardette Plaque is more than just a piece of metal on a wall. It is a symbol of resistance and resilience. Born in Paris in 1895, Maurice Gardette’s life was deeply intertwined with the social and political struggles of his time. He began as a metalworker, following in his father’s footsteps, and soon became a prominent trade unionist. He joined the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) at the young age of sixteen, later becoming secretary of the Metalworkers’ Union. Gardette’s dedication to social justice led him to join the French Communist Party in 1920. He later served as a Communist councilor for the 11th arrondissement of Paris from 1936 until he was dismissed from his post by the authorities in 1940. With the outbreak of World War II and the Nazi occupation of France, Gardette’s activism took on a new urgency. He became a vocal critic of the occupation and joined the Resistance movement. He was arrested in 1939 and imprisoned in various detention centers before being transferred to the camp at Choisel near Châteaubriant. It was here, on October 22, 1941, that Maurice Gardette, along with 26 other hostages, was executed by the Nazis in retaliation for a Resistance attack. His death, a tragic loss, served as a stark reminder of the human cost of the fight for freedom. His legacy lives on in the hearts of Parisians and all those who value liberty and justice. Take a moment to reflect on the inscription on the Maurice Gardette Plaque: “I die courageous, filled with revolutionary faith.”