“Who was Paul Mazy?” I wonder aloud as we gather here on Rue Paul Mazy. This street in Ivry-sur-Seine carries a heavy story. It’s a story of resistance and sacrifice. Rue Paul Mazy is named for a brave man. Paul Mazy was born in Limoges in 1909. He worked as an electrician for the SNCF.
Paul Mazy’s story is one of defiance. He joined the “Résistance fer” network. This was a railway resistance group during World War II. In September 1942, the Nazis arrested him. Paul Mazy faced his captors with courage.
He was imprisoned. Paul Mazy was held at La Santé and Fresnes prisons. A German military tribunal condemned him to death. On November 21 1942, Paul Mazy was executed. He was shot at Mont Valérien with two other railway workers from Ivry.
The sacrifice of Paul Mazy wasn’t forgotten. In 1945, the town council honored him. They renamed Rue des Champs-Familieux to Rue Paul Mazy. This act ensured his name would live on. It served as a constant reminder of his bravery.
Paul Mazy’s last letter is heartbreaking. He wrote to his wife. Paul Mazy said he only had a few hours to live. He wouldn’t go to his death singing. Instead, he would think of her and everyone he loved. His final wish was for his wife to be happy. He hoped she would find someone else to love her as he had.
The story of Rue Paul Mazy doesn’t end with the war. In more recent times, the street became a site of resistance again. In 2012, activists occupied a building. They wanted to create a community space. They envisioned workshops and shared meals.
But their occupation was short-lived. They were evicted by armed men. The activists saw this as a betrayal. They felt the local government was complicit in unjust urban development. They dedicated their resistance to Paul Mazy’s memory.
Today Rue Paul Mazy stands as a testament. It honors a man who fought for freedom. It is a reminder that resistance can take many forms. The street embodies a spirit of defiance. It is a call for justice that echoes through time. As we stand on Rue Paul Mazy, we remember Paul Mazy. We honor his sacrifice. We reflect on the importance of standing up for what is right.