Place Marcel Pointet

Did Marcel Pointet ever imagine a square bearing his name? Here at Place Marcel Pointet in Stains, the air hums with a quiet reverence. This isn’t just a square. It’s a tribute to a man who lived, fought, and died for his beliefs. Place Marcel Pointet lies close to the heart of Stains, near the site of the old chateau. The modern Théâtre Paul-Éluard now graces the area, a stark contrast to the square’s namesake’s turbulent life. Marcel Pointet, born in Stains in 1912, led a seemingly ordinary life as a comptable. However, beneath the surface, he worked for “France Navigation”. This company, a front for the Communist International, smuggled arms to Republican Spain. He toiled tirelessly, managing accounts from his home on Boulevard Aubervilliers, a seemingly mundane task that masked his vital role in the resistance. World War II erupted, and Pointet was mobilized, only to be captured and later released in 1941. Unable to find work, he registered for unemployment in Stains, all the while secretly resuming his clandestine activities with the Communist Party and the Front National. His life took a dark turn in September 1941. He was arrested, along with two comrades, in Saint-Denis. Accused of distributing propaganda, Pointet was handed over to the Germans. Despite enduring torture, he refused to betray his comrades. He was condemned to death and executed at Mont-Valérien on January 5, 1942. His final message to his wife was a testament to his courage: “You will not be the widow of a coward.” Today, Place Marcel Pointet stands as a testament to his bravery. The square, formerly Place Louis-Loucheur, now bears the name of this unassuming hero. It is a reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight for freedom, a quiet corner where the echoes of history whisper in the wind.