“A bas Pétain vive de Gaulle à bas Vichy” These defiant words once echoed through the streets of Beausoleil. They were painted there by a young man named André Kraemer. We stand before the Plaque commémorative André KRAEMER Plaque a poignant reminder of his short life and courageous resistance.
This plaque honors André Kraemer a Monégasque patriot. He was born in Monaco on June 1 1927. His father was a Parisian-based upholsterer who later moved his workshop to Monaco and Beausoleil. André himself was apprenticed as an upholsterer. His early defiance against the Vichy regime shows his unwavering spirit.
André became a member of the Combat movement in Beausoleil. He was involved in acts of sabotage and resistance. He made bombs. He even took pictures of enemy installations and camps. He photographed the Fort du Mont Agel a strategic location.
His activities didn’t go unnoticed. André and his father were arrested by the Gestapo on August 12 1944. When the Germans discovered weapons and ammunition André boldly declared that he was fighting against his enemies. He refused to betray his comrades.
He was imprisoned in Nice’s Nouvelles Prisons. The Allied invasion of Provence on August 15 1944 sealed his fate. The Gestapo chose 23 hostages. André was one of them. They were taken to a vacant lot in Nice’s Ariane district. They were executed summarily.
André Kraemer’s death wasn’t officially recorded until November 15 1944. His death certificate was registered on December 14 1944. He was posthumously declared “Mort pour la France” on May 4 1962. This plaque among others stands as a testament to his sacrifice. It reminds us of his bravery. It reminds us of the cost of freedom.