Raymond Fresco. A name etched not just onto the Plaque commémorative Raymond FRESCO Mémorial de guerre, but into the very heart of Cannes’s resistance history. This plaque, right before us, whispers a story of defiance against the brutal forces of the Gestapo during World War II. Born in 1922 in Marseille, Raymond Fresco’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 21, right here in Nice, on November 18, 1943. He was a member of the Union de la Jeunesse Juive (UJRE), the Jewish Youth Union, actively involved in their propaganda efforts, especially after German troops occupied Nice on September 9, 1943. He was apprehended during a raid on the UJRE’s and MOI’s clandestine printing press in the Valrose district on November 13, 1943. The inscription tells us that he fell here, a young patriot of the Jewish Youth Union, cut down by Gestapo bullets. But his story, as preserved on this plaque, reveals more than his final moments. Fresco’s capture was a violent affair. He was already injured when the SS took him. They tortured him relentlessly, even as he lay on what amounted to his deathbed. The information we see here, the location, the date, speaks to the broader context of the French Resistance during World War II. Commemorative plaques, like this one honoring Raymond Fresco, serve as vital visual testaments to French history and culture. They mark not only famous individuals but also important events and places, often adorning the walls of buildings, monuments, or public spaces. In the aftermath of the war, another plaque was placed at the corner of Avenue de Valrose and Rue Romain Rolland, commemorating the circumstances of his arrest and death. The Plaque commémorative Raymond FRESCO Mémorial de guerre stands as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made during the war and the enduring spirit of resistance.
Square 18 Juin 1940
“We shall never surrender!” That’s the spirit Square 18 Juin 1940 embodies. This square stands as a testament to a