Five thousand Parisians paid tribute to the role that foreigners played in the French resistance during the occupation at impressive ceremonies here on the first anniversary of the execution by the Germans of 25 immigrant leaders, ten of whom were Jews.
The memorial was arranged by the Committee to Aid the Defense of Immigrants, which is sponsored by the Paris Committee of Liberation Representatives of the Government, the Army, the Council of National Resistance, political parties and immigrant resistance groups, including Jewish, Polish, Rumanian, Armenian, Greek and Yugoslav, participated.
The procession started at the Porte de Choisy and marched to the Ivry Cemetery, where the 23 victims are buried in a section reserved for martyrs of the resistance. Their graves were covered by mountains of flowers. A “roll call” was held, and as each man’s name was read out, the answer: “Died for France” was given.
Pierre Villon, of the Council of National Resistance, recalled how the Germans had attempted to discredit the resistance movement by flooding the country with posters giving the names and photographs of the 23 victims, to show that the resistance was composed only of aliens and Jews. “But these foreigners,” Villon said, “set an example which many Frenchmen followed.”
Mayor Marrance of Ivry, speaking for the Paris Liberation Committee, said that the rights of immigrants in France would be protected. Other speakers included Capt. Stephan, a hero of the battle for the liberation of Paris, who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, pledging that France would treat immigrants as brothers.
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