A somber Parisian street. Rue Simon Guitlevitch. Its name whispers a story of sacrifice. A story of resistance during the dark days of World War II.
This unassuming street in Villemomble holds a poignant memory. It is named after Simon Guitlevitch a courageous Gaullist resistance fighter. He was born in Paris in 1912. A businessman by trade. He risked his life for freedom.
Simon Guitlevitch joined a group of resistance fighters. Arrested in 1941. He faced trial for collaborating with the enemy. Sentenced to life imprisonment. He was held in the Santé Prison.
Designated as a hostage. A reprisal for attacks carried out by resistance members. Simon Guitlevitch was executed. Shot at Mont-Valérien on February 3 1942. Along with five other hostages. His death was a tragic consequence of the war’s brutality.
Initially buried in Suresnes his body was later moved. Reinterred in the new cemetery of Villemomble. His name lives on. Inscribed on the war memorial and a commemorative plaque at Lycée Jacques-Decour.
The city council honored him. Naming the street where he lived Rue Simon Guitlevitch. A permanent tribute to a man who gave his life for his beliefs. His memory serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during wartime.
A simple street name. Yet it resonates with the bravery of one man. Simon Guitlevitch. His story a testament to courage. A story etched into the very fabric of this Parisian street. A quiet tribute. A lasting legacy. Remember his name. Remember his sacrifice. Rue Simon Guitlevitch. A street with a soul.