In West Africa, tata is a Wolof word meaning “plot of sacred land”, the place where warriors killed in combat are buried.

In Chasselay, in the Rhône, this name takes on its true meaning when you delve into the local annals and learn the history of the events that took place here during the Second World War.

The battles

On 19 and 20 June 1940, ignorant of the fact that Lyon had just been declared an “open city”, the 25^th Senegalese Infantry Regiment confronted the German army in Chasselay and the surrounding area.

Despite their bravery, they were finally forced to lay down arms. The battles were terminated by the massacre of African prisoners by the SS division Totenkopf (Death’s Head).

The tata

Rectangular in shape, surrounded by high walls surmounted on each corner and above the entrance by a spiked pyramid, the tata is architecturally inspired by Sudanese architecture.

The massive oak door bears eight different stylised sculpted masks displaying idols that keep watch over the deceased at rest. The surrounding walls and grave stones are red ochre in colour.

The cemetery holds the remains of 196 infantrymen of various nationalities from West Africa. They originated from Senegal but also Burkina Faso (Upper Volta at the time), Dahomey, Sudan, Chad and other nations.

The origins of the cemetery

This unique building in France is owed to Jean Marchiani. A veteran of the war of 1914-1918, in 1940 he held the position of General Secretary of the Departmental Office of disabled ex-servicemen, veterans and victims of war.

As soon as he heard about the events of 19 and 20 June, he decided to bring together the bodies of the African soldiers, some of whom were buried in local cemeteries while others were often simply left to lay in ditches in the middle of the countryside.

After identifying the villages where bodies were buried, Jean Marchiani bought a plot of land in Chasselay, near the locality of Vide-Sac where 50 Senegalese prisoners were shot by the enemy, and raised funds. He was backed by General Doyen, former commander of the Army of the Alps, and Senegal Deputy Calendou Diouf.

The inauguration took place on 8 November 1942, three days before the invasion of the free zone by the Germans.

This memorial and site for contemplation was classified as a national cemetery in 1966. The property of the Ministry of Defence, it is managed by the interdepartmental department of veterans’ affairs for the Rhône-Alpes region.

Nécropole nationale de Chasselay (Chasselay National Cemetery)

Getting there: Take the D100 in the direction of Les Chères Chasselay (Rhône)

Opening times: 10 am to 6 pm

Guided tours: 10 am to 12 pm and 2-5 pm

Admission: free of charge

Built at the beginning of the 15th century (in 1402), the Noble Tower was completed under King Philippe the Good. Designed using regional materials (Lezennes stone), it is covered with earth for protection against the cold and fire, with a width of 14 m and walls that are 3-m thick. The masonry and mouldings date from the Burgundy period. The “Noble Tower” has existed for 6 centuries.

Destroyed during Louis XIV’s siege, it was restored by Vauban. The upper section is missing, however, as is the ground floor, which has been buried. Inside we can admire the gothic vault and the urn symbolising the Martyrdom of the Deportees.

 

The urn inside the Noble Tower contains the ashes and cremated remains of deportees who were horribly murdered in the death camps. The cover, in bronze, bears the names of the camps in raised lettering.

Departmental Resistance and Deportation Memorial
Rue des Déportés in Lille

The site is open to the public during commemorative events, such as the last Sunday in April each year for the Deportation Commemoration Day and for the Historic Monuments Open House Days in September.

Information: for group visits, contact the Cultural Service at +33 (0)3 20 49 52 81.

Lille Tourism Office
Palais Rihour Place Rihour BP 205 59002 LILLE Cedex

Tel. from France: 0891 56 2004
Tel. from abroad: +33 (0)359 579 400

Website of the Regional Tourism Committee of the Nord region

Website of the Nord Department Tourism Committee

Website of the Lille Tourism Office

Quiz: Forts and citadels

This 38 metre high islet with its natural beauty, battered by wind and tide, overlooks the entrance to the Brest Narrows. Protected by the sea but accessible at low tide, it has been used as a refuge since prehistoric times. Its position made it highly coveted, and the Dukes of Brittany set Le Perzel Château on it in the 5th century. However, its moment of glory came during the 17th century, when the King's engineer proposed that the island be fortified by building on the existing ruins. Vauban established a battery which was involved in driving back the English.

At the end of the 19th century, the islet was abandoned and a more powerful battery was created on land, behind it. The last time it was armed was by the Germans, who sited 75mm and 20mm canons on it, and hid machine guns around the fort. Under heavy bombardment, it surrendered to American troops in September 1944.

Bertheaume lay abandoned for 45 years until it was reborn out of its turbulent history in 1992. After Herculean restoration work (when workmen physically carried materials to the site) it was opened to the public once again.

Today, the accurately restored site invites you to discover its past through numerous exhibitions and events.

Bertheaume Fort

Tel: +33.(0)2.98.48.26.41

Group visits can be arranged on request. Evening visit entitled "Tales of Bertheaume": every Wednesday in summer

Open April to November: 5 April to 4 May 2pm to 6.30pm every day. 5 May to 27 June and 6 to 28 September, 2pm to 6.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. 28 June to 31 August: 10am to 7pm.
October: 2pm to 6pm on Wednesdays and Sundays, 25 October to 2 November 2pm to 6.30pm every day. Open 2pm to 6pm on 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 November.

Ticket office closes 1 hour before the site.
 

Entrance: Adults: €3.80 Preferential rate: €2.90 Reduced tariff (young people aged 12-18, students and job seekers): €2.10 Children aged 6-11: €0.80
 

Plougonvelin village official website

Cette maison fut le lieu de retrouvailles familiales pendant toute son enfance et sa jeunesse. C’est dans une famille unie autour de valeurs communes (patriotisme, ferveur religieuse, sens de l’engagement…) et dans un contexte géopolitique en plein bouleversement, que s’est forgé le caractère du futur Président de la Ve République.

Monument historique, la Maison natale Charles de Gaulle a pour vocation de faire découvrir à un large public l’enfance et la genèse de celui qui deviendra le plus illustre des français.

La Maison natale Charles de Gaulle a fait l’objet d’une campagne de travaux de grande ampleur en 2020 qui a permis de conforter la structure de l’habitation mais aussi de la rénover complètement (décors restaurés, pièces de vie réhabilitées, jardin d’hiver restitué…). La maison recrée l’ambiance d’un intérieur caractéristique de la bourgeoisie industrielle du Nord à la fin du XIXe siècle telle que Charles l’a connue enfant.

Une visite 100 % immersive !

Fermont Fort, located 5km east of Longuyon in the north of the Meurthe et Moselle, an area popular with tourists known as the "triangle of fire", ranks with Simershof and Hackenberg among the largest Maginot line fortifications to be open to the public.

This large fortification, built between May 1931 and February 1936 is part of La Crusnes fortified area. It is made up of seven combat blocks and two entrance blocks (for men and ammunition) linked by a network of over two kilometres of underground passageways.

In June 1940, under the command of Captain Aubert, the fort valiantly resisted several attacks by the Germans. On 17 June combat block no. 4 was attacked unsuccessfully. Another assault four days later against the entire fortification resulted in the loss of 80 soldiers (killed or wounded) on the German side and just one fatality and one serious injury on the French side. Although undefeated, the soldiers of Fermont Fort crew were obliged by orders from French command to surrender on 27 June 1940.

At the entrance to the fortification, a memorial in memory of the troops "delivered unbeaten to the enemy" is a just reminder that the majority of the fortifications on the Maginot line were still standing firm in the face of the enemy when the Armistice took effect on 25 June 1940.

The French Ministry of Defence, which owns the 27-hectare site, passed its upkeep, management and promotion to the Friends of Fort Fermont Fortification and the Maginot Line Association (AAOFLM) in 1975.

The site, which has been open to the public since 12 June 1977, is visited by an average of 20,000 people each year. The two-hour trip begins in front of the munitions entrance. Visitors enters a goods lift to travel 30 metres underground to the heart of the fortification, and are then directed towards the munitions magazine (M1), within which a museum depicting the daily life of the crew of the fort has been created. They then travel on a small train - an authentic shunter - to combat block no. 4. From outside the fortification, on the top of the structure, visitors can admire an impressive artillery bunker with 3 crenels measuring 75mm. A few hundred meters beyond lies no. 1 block with its 75mm turret.

After walking outside, visitors return inside the fortification. They board another small train to the barracks and electricity plant with its four 225 horsepower diesel generators, designed for use should the external electricity supply have been cut off. The conclusion to the visit is the exterior museum featuring a large number of artillery exhibits, including three turrets recovered from Brehain fortification (around 12km south-east of Longwy, on the plateau which faces Luxembourg).

During the summer, the association organises a number of events in addition to these visits. In August 2003 the Fermont Fortification was transformed into a giant exhibition venue for the work of contemporary artists from the region. It was also completely metamorphosed in March 2003 when a part of Olivier Dahan's film "Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse" was filmed there with Christopher Lee, Jean Réno and Benoît Magimet. The Meurthe et Moselle Departmental Council was conscious of the need to preserve the fortification without damaging it. It commissioned a study into realising the potential of Fermont Fort from a specialised consultancy, which resulted in a credible, sustainable plan for the promotion of the site as a tourist attraction.

Fremont Fort

Contacts: Friends of Fort Fermont fortification and the Maginot Line association

9, rue Albert Lebrun 54260 LONGUYON

Tel: +33 (0)3 82 39 35 34

Fax: +33 (0)3 82 39 26 46

email :ligne.maginot.fort.de.fermont@wanadoo.fr

Administration office staffed: Monday - Wednesday 2pm to 6pm and Friday 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm.

Please wear warm clothing and suitable shoes.

Allow two hours for your visit.

Opening hours and tours:

1 - 30 April Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 2pm to 3.30pm

1 May to 30 June one single visit Monday to Friday at 3pm, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays 2pm to 3.30pm

1 July to 31 August every day from 2pm to 4.30pm

1 September to 3rd weekend in the month open every day, visits at 2pm and 3.30pm

3rd weekend in September to 31 October Saturdays and Sundays, visits at 2.30pm and 4pm

Open every day all year round for groups, by appointment with the administration office.

Entrance: Adults: €8, Children aged 7-12: €5 Group: €6 (30 people minimum)

Official Fermont Fort website

Fortweb website on European fortifications

Avec ses 19 blocs de combat et ses 10 km de galeries, l’ouvrage du Hackenberg est le géant de la Ligne Maginot.

Sa construction débuta dès 1930 parmi les tout premiers. Il fut en fait le prototype des ouvrages d'artillerie de la ligne Maginot. 1800 ouvriers environ travaillèrent avec des moyens relativement rudimentaires pendant six années pour construire les 19 blocs de combat et percer environ 10 kilomètres de galeries. Après 1933 et l'achèvement du gros oeuvre, on installa l'équipement intérieur et l'armée française prit livraison de l'ensemble en 1936.

Après la déclaration de guerre en 1939 et la période de vigilance maximale de la 'Drôle de guerre', le Hackenberg remplit son rôle lors de l'offensive allemande de 1940 et sa reddition ne fut effective que quelques jours après l'armistice. En novembre 1944, il fut investi par la 3e armée américaine du général PATTON lors de la terrible bataille pour la libération de la Moselle.

Sous la conduite d’un guide de l’association AMIFORT, le public y découvre des installations d’origine en parfait état de fonctionnement, une usine électrique et des groupes électrogènes en état de marche, des salles reconstituées à l’identique et un musée militaire.

La visite se poursuit à bord du petit train d’époque qui transporte les visiteurs vers les blocs de combat, dont l’imposant bloc 9 où l’on peut assister à la démonstration du fonctionnement de sa tourelle d’artillerie de 163 tonnes.

Après une sortie en surface, les visiteurs découvrent le bloc 8 qui porte encore les stigmates des combats de 1944 entre les troupes allemandes et américaines.

C'est un voyage dans le temps et dans l'Histoire d’une formidable fortification du XXème siècle que les bénévoles et salariés de l'association AMIFORT vous proposent.

L’ouvrage du Hackenberg est l’un des très rares ouvrages militaires possédant un circuit pédestre balisé par le Club Vosgien qui vous permet d'admirer les dessus de ces 19 blocs de combat en transitant par le Mur Antichar de 800 mètres de long et 8 mètres de haut, une curiosité unique en Lorraine.

La visite du fort dure environ deux heures et se déroule dans un environnement souterrain où la température est stabilisée à 12° toute l'année. Pour votre confort prévoir des vêtements en conséquence.

Compte tenu des contraintes liées à la visite d'un ouvrage souterrain ancien à plusieurs niveaux, seule la découverte de quatre-vingt pourcents du parcours est assurée pour les personnes à mobilité réduite. Les poussettes sont acceptées.

Une boutique souvenir vous est proposée à la fin de la visite.

Sources : ©GROS OUVRAGE MAGINOT DU HACKENBERG - PHOTOS libre de droit Crédit photo association AMIFORT

Par sa masse écrasante, par le caractère souterrain de ses installations, par la souffrance des travailleurs forcés qui l’ont édifié, le site constitue un lieu symbolique de la folie nazie.

Il s’agit de l’une des « constructions spéciales » édifiées par l’armée allemande, en 1943-1944, pour permettre la mise en opération de nouveaux systèmes d’armes V destinés à frapper l’Angleterre.

Cet immense bunker, construit par l’organisation Todt en 1943-1944, était destiné à stocker, préparer et lancer vers le centre-ville de Londres l’arme secrète de Hitler : la fusée V2.

Ce furent les bombardements, puis la percée des troupes anglo-américaines en Normandie, à la fin juillet 1944, qui incita les Allemands à abandonner le chantier de La Coupole, à quelques semaines de son achèvement. Ainsi, aucune fusée V2 n’a pu décoller d’un site conçu comme la première base de missiles stratégiques de l’Histoire.

Réhabilité en 1997, le Centre d’Histoire présente deux circuits de visite : « Les Armes secrètes d’Hitler : V1 et V2 » et « Le Nord de la France dans la main allemande » sur les grandes périodes de l’Occupation : l’invasion, l’exode, la vie quotidienne, la Résistance, la collaboration et la Libération.

Vous découvrez également que derrière cette arme, il y a le parcours d’un jeune ingénieur allemand, Wernher von Braun, inventeur de la fusée V2, récupéré par les Américains au lendemain de la guerre et qui mettra au point, l’immense fusée Saturn V qui enverra l’Homme sur la Lune….

La conquête spatiale débute donc bien ici sur les traces des premiers pas de l’Homme sur la Lune et elle se poursuit au Planétarium où vous serez plongés dans l’univers en totale immersion grâce à une technologie 10K-3D unique au monde !

Munis de lunettes actives dernière génération vous serez plongés parmi les étoiles grâce à l’écran à 360° de 15 mètres de diamètre.

Internment of the Gypsies

In May 1941, the Feldkommandantur for Besançon decided to apply the decree passed on 4th October 1940 forcing travelling people in the occupied zone to be held together in internment camps. This measure was initially aimed at those in the Belfort, Doubs, Haute-Saône and Jura areas. It was then extended to cover those in the Côte-d'Or, Haute-Marne, Saône-et-Loire and Ain Departements. Thus, on 24th June 1941, the first travellers from Belfort were sent to the Châtelain and Châtelaine forest houses belonging to the Chaux estate, 22 km from Dôle. But this location quickly proved unsuitable. Insufficient accommodation and water that was unfit to drink caused the German authorities to transfer the Gypsies to the Arc-et-Senans Saltworks on 1st September 1941.
Built by architect Claude Nicolas LEDOUX, and owned by the Doubs Departement since 1927, the Royal Saltworks at that time was in a very poor state of repair despite initial restoration work carried out between 1930 and 1936. Among other things it had already been used as an assembly centre for Spanish Republicans between February and October 1939, before being requisitioned by the French Army during the Phoney War. The Germans then took possession of the place during the first half of 1941, until their departure. Until 15th May 1942, the status of the Arc-et-Senans camp, run by four Customs Officers, was that of an assembly centre. In effect, this meant that the Gypsies, grouped into whole families, could leave the camp area, through the use of exit passes. This period was also notable for the absence of common buildings which meant that the travelling people had to live by their own means. Thus, in order to support their families, some adults went to work in neighbouring businesses such as engineering firm UMAS (Union métallurgique d'Arc-et-Senans) or the Todt organisation. In addition, the sanitation was appalling; the showers were unusable, the toilets did not work and there were inadequate fresh water supplies... The lack of hygiene gave rise to diseases such as scabies, and many gypsies had to be transferred to the hospitals in Besançon for treatment. Meanwhile, an excessive number of escapes and exit passes that were too freely issued led to many complaints from the inhabitants of Arc-et-Senans. And on 15th May 1942, the order was given for the Royal Saltworks to become an internment camp. The changes were radical; people were no longer permitted to leave and as a result some hitherto absent facilities were rapidly installed. These included soup-kitchen style catering facilities, as well as an infirmary and a school able to take the 58 children registered at the camp. Despite these transformations, the Gypsy population still lived in difficult conditions. A report issued by the Camp Governor in August 1943, revealed that of the 185 internees, 44 suffered from skin complaints: infected wounds, abscesses, varicose ulcers, etc. Furthermore, the escapes continued. This undoubtedly led to the closure of the camp at Arc-et-Senans on 11th September 1943 and the transfer of the Gypsy families to the Jargeau internment camp in the Loiret region. This dramatic episode in the history of the Royal Saltworks has not been forgotten. On 11th and 12th March 1999 - as part of a major event entitled "A Look at Travelling People", organised by the Institut Claude Nicolas LEDOUX - a seminar was held at the Royal Saltworks on the theme "The Arc-et-Senans internment camp: its part in the discriminatory treatment of Gypsies". Finally, on 9th April 1999, a commemorative plaque was placed at the entrance to the Saltworks in tribute to the interned families.

Saline Royale Institut Claude-Nicolas Ledoux Département Tourisme et Publics 25610 Arc et Senans Tél.: + 33 (0)3 81 54 45 45 Fax: + 33 (0)3 81 54 45 46

In the forest of Saint-Michel-en-Thiérache, near Hirson, there is a line of blockhouses built starting in 1936 and which were not part of the Maginot Line. Along the Belgian border, they form the connection between the fortifications of Maubeuge and those of the Ardennes. At first, only block shelters were built.

In 1940, although not yet completed, they provided support for two lines of combat positions: the front line – Ligne Principale de Résistance (LPR – Main Line of Resistance), and the rear line – Ligne d'Arrêt (LA – Stop Line), where the reserves in charge of the counterattack were located.

An anti-tank ditch and a network of anti-personnel barbed wire rounded out this double line.
The LPR and the LA contained imposing blockhouses equipped with cannons and machine guns.

On 18 May 1940, the Germans slipped between these two lines and took control of these positions.

A marked forest path is being set up. Furthermore, there is currently a project for a monument commemorating the fighting. Once the project is completed, some sites will accessible by car and hikers will be able to enjoy marked trails with explanatory signs for understanding the sites.