What silent story does this Plaque commémorative Roger SIMON whisper? It stands as a solemn tribute to a young life sacrificed during World War II. The plaque commemorates Roger Simon. He was a resistant fighter who tragically lost his life at just 18 years old.
Roger Simon was born in Nice on March 31 1925. He died in Nice on August 28 1944. He was an electromechanical engineer and a Gaullist resistant.
In the summer of 1943, Roger Simon joined the Resistance. He became part of the Académie group. Captain François Calvin led this group. Later, it was attached to the Free Corps of National Liberation and the FFI of the Parent group.
On August 28 1944, during the Nice uprising, Simon tried to reach his group. They were barricaded in the Fabron telephone exchange. A German patrol captured him in Carras. He had a pistol.
The Germans brutally beat him. They took him to a blockhouse on the Promenade des Anglais. It was near number 323. They beat him again. Then, they shot him twice in the head in the late afternoon.
Roger Simon was recognized as “Mort pour la France” meaning died for France. The city of Nice honored him. They named a square in Carras after him. It is near where he died. This square stands at the corner of Avenue de la Californie and Avenue de Saint-Augustin. A plaque there remembers his sacrifice. Every August 28, flowers are placed on the plaque. This is during the city of Nice’s memory circuit.
His name is also on the memorial to the resistants of the 14th canton in Nice. It is also on the monument to the 446 SNCF agents who died for France. That monument is in Narvik Square at Marseille-Saint-Charles station in Marseille.
The Plaque commémorative Roger SIMON serves as a reminder. It reminds us of the sacrifices made for freedom. It also reminds us of the importance of remembering those who fought for their country. Take a moment to reflect on the courage and dedication of Roger Simon. Let us honor his memory by upholding the values he defended.