French President Emmanuel Macron, marking the anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, paid tribute to men from Moselle and Alsace who were forcibly conscripted into the German army during the Second World War.
As part of the annual ceremony marking the end of the First World War, Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled a plaque in memory of the men, often referred to as malgré-nous ("despite ourselves"), at the Hôtel des Invalides.
Men from Alsace and Moselle were conscripted into the German army in 1942, following the introduction of compulsory military service for residents of those territories, which were annexed by Germany in 1940.
Although many tried to escape, most were compelled to serve, and between 20,000 and 40,000 died. Some 90,000 returned to France, where they were often considered traitors.
Six malgré-nous veterans were at the ceremony and were recognised by Macron, who had already spoken of the “tragedy of the malgré-nous” during the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Strasbourg in November 2024.
Remembrance Day in Paris
At the close of the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Paris, after inspecting the troops, Macron laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe.
Among those who took turns to also lay a wreath were Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet and the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher.
Politicians, including former presidents and their families, are traditionally invited to the ceremony. Nicolas Sarkozy, who was released from prison on Monday, had announced that he would not attend.
The president’s wife Brigitte Macron was also absent. She has attended only once as first lady, during the centenary of the Armistice in 2018.
(with newswires)
