Here stands a testament to courage. This is the Plaque commemorative Jacques ADAM a war memorial in Cannes. It tells the story of Jacques Adam a young man who defied the Nazis.
Jacques Adam was born in 1921. He was a student at the Lycée Masséna in Nice. He actively joined the Resistance movement. This was despite the risks involved and with his parents’ support. He started by distributing propaganda leaflets. Later he acquired a mimeograph machine. With friends he created a resistance newspaper Le Franc Tireur de Nice. They even targeted the shops of collaborators.
In 1941 Jacques Adam faced consequences. He was sentenced to six months in prison. He was expelled from the Lycée Masséna. After prison he enrolled in a navigation school. He aimed to become a radio officer. He also created a Resistance group within the school.
Jacques joined the Compagnons de France a Resistance group. He sought to recruit more members. He knew Jean Montiès Labarthe a future regional leader of the Resistance. He knew Pierre Merli a founder of a movement for prisoners of war and deportees. He was a member of Jeunes de Combat leading a group of fifteen. He joined Groupes francs des MUR led by his friend Peirani.
In December 1942 he was arrested. Italian occupiers were searching for those responsible for attacks. His group faced repression in the summer of 1943. Jacques went into hiding. He returned to Nice joining the CFL. He took part in many Resistance actions. After the Normandy landings in June 1944 he joined the Férion maquis near Nice.
He was captured with four comrades. They were on their way down from the maquis. The circumstances of their arrest remain unclear. They may have been seized by the Milice or the Feldgendarmerie. They were interrogated and tortured at the Villa Trianon. They were imprisoned in Nice.
On June 10 eleven prisoners were executed near Saint-Julien-du-Verdon. This was in retaliation for the assassination of a Sipo-SD leader. Jacques Adam was one of two still alive when they were shot. He recounted their suffering before dying.
Jacques Adam was posthumously awarded the rank of Captain FFI and the Legion of Honour. This plaque honors his sacrifice. It reminds us of the bravery of ordinary people who fought for freedom. It is a poignant reminder of the cost of war. This simple plaque is a powerful symbol of resistance. The Plaque commemorative Jacques ADAM is a vital part of Cannes history.