Vercors Commemorations

Vercors Commemorations: The Duty of Remembrance in Vassieux-en-Vercors

Each year, on July 21st and 22nd, the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors commemorates one of the most tragic episodes of the French Resistance. In July 1944, this small village in the Vercors massif was the scene of an unprecedentedly violent German airborne attack, which caused the deaths of 73 inhabitants and dozens of maquisards.

July 1944: The Tragedy of Vassieux-en-Vercors

On July 14th, 1944, Vassieux-en-Vercors was bombed by German aviation. On July 21st, an airborne operation was launched against the village: about twenty German gliders landed in and around Vassieux, deploying Wehrmacht and SS troops. For two days, fierce fighting ensued. 73 inhabitants were massacred, houses were looted and burned. In total, 187 maquisards and civilians lost their lives in the Vercors battles.

Vassieux-en-Vercors, Companion of the Liberation

On August 4th, 1945, General de Gaulle awarded Vassieux-en-Vercors the Cross of Liberation, making the village one of the only five communes in France to be elevated to the rank of Companion of the Liberation, alongside Nantes, Grenoble, Paris, and the island of Sein. This exceptional distinction recognizes the sacrifice and courage of its inhabitants in the face of the occupier.

The Ceremonies of July 21st

The commemorations follow a solemn program:

• 9:30 AM: Religious service in memory of the victims
• 10:30 AM: Ceremony at the village martyrology, where the names of the 73 massacred inhabitants are inscribed
• 11:20 AM: Ceremony at the National Necropolis of Vassieux-en-Vercors, where 187 maquisards and inhabitants rest

The ceremonies are held in the presence of state representatives (prefect, elected officials), military personnel, veterans and their descendants, as well as hundreds of visitors from all over France. Wreaths are laid, the Marseillaise is played, and the Chant des Partisans echoes through the village.

The 80th Anniversary in 2024

The year 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the Vercors battles, leading to exceptionally large-scale commemorations. Special ceremonies, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events were organized throughout the Vercors territory to pay tribute to the victims and pass on the memory of the Resistance to new generations.

The Departmental Museum of the Vercors Resistance

Located in Vassieux-en-Vercors, the Departmental Museum of the Vercors Resistance preserves and transmits the memory of the maquis battles. Testimonies, period objects, archival documents, and reconstructions allow visitors to understand the history of the Vercors maquis and the sacrifice of its fighters. The museum is an essential complement to the commemorative ceremonies.