Rue Raymond Delasalle

“A street named after a hero?” Rue Raymond Delasalle. This unassuming street in Chelles holds a name that whispers tales of courage and sacrifice. It commemorates a man who, though born in Meaux in 1912, found himself deeply intertwined with the fate of Paris during its darkest hour. Raymond Delasalle, a dedicated worker for the SNCF, lived a seemingly ordinary life with his wife and two children on Avenue Joffre in Esbly. However, beneath the surface of normalcy beat the heart of a fervent communist and a dedicated member of the Resistance: Résistance-Fer. In 1942, his life took a dramatic turn. He was arrested, a consequence of his clandestine activities against the Nazi regime that had cast a long shadow over Paris. The charge? Possession of leaflets, daring to rally against oppression and call for freedom. Imprisoned first at Cherche-Midi, then at Fort de Romainville, he became a pawn in a deadly game. Following the assassination of SS General Julius Ritter by the French Resistance, the Nazis, in their ruthless retaliation, chose fifty hostages to be executed. Raymond Delasalle was one of them. On October 2nd, 1943, he was executed at Mont-Valérien, his life tragically cut short. His remains were laid to rest in Père-Lachaise Cemetery. Rue Raymond Delasalle stands as a testament to his bravery, a quiet reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight for liberty.