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Speech by Nicolas SARKOZY, President of the Republic, at the memorial ceremony for the Bois de Boulogne martyrs.

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Bois de Boullogne, Paris, Wednesday, May 16th 2007

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are here in the Bois de Boulogne at this tragic site where the Gestapo shot 35 young resistance fighters 63 years ago.

This pointless and absurd massacre took place just days before Paris was liberated, when it was already all over. It was not an act of war. It was murder committed in cold blood, as an act of vengeance.

At the time of their execution, the 35 resistance fighters, who were betrayed and captured, were already symbols. Even in their executioners' eyes, they were symbols. In the faces of the 35 martyrs, many of whom were barely 20 years old, the executioners could read their own inevitable defeat and, what was even more unbearable, a future taking shape in which there was no place for them.

They had killed too many people. They had too much blood on their hands. They were no longer soldiers; they were murderers acting solely out of their instinct for death and destruction.

In this place, on 16 August 1944, the 35 young Frenchmen who were about to die symbolised man's nobility in the face of barbarity.

In this place, on 16 August 1944, the victims were free men and the executioners were slaves.

The resistance fighters were young. They were about to die. But what they symbolised is invincible. They said “no”, “no” to fatalism, “no” to surrender, “no” to dishonour, “no” to that which vilifies mankind, and this “no” will continue to be heard long after their death, because this "no" is the eternal cry that human freedom raises to counter any threats to subjugate it.

We can still hear this cry.

I would like our schools to teach our children to listen to this cry and to understand it.

If we want them to grow into men and not big children, then it is our duty to teach them this idea of mankind that past generations have bequeathed to us and in whose name so many sacrifices have been made.

I wanted to hold my first commemoration in my capacity as President of the Republic here, in this place where young Frenchmen were murdered because they could not conceive of France turning its back on all its history and its values.
I wanted to use the first day of my term to honour these young resistance fighters for whom France was more important than their party or their church.
I wanted to have the moving letter that Guy Môquet wrote to his parents on the eve of his execution read out loud.
I wanted these things because I believe it is critically important to explain to our children what a young Frenchman is, and to explain how the sacrifice of some of these anonymous heroes who have been left out of the history books can show us the greatness of a man who devotes himself to a greater cause.

I want this gesture to show our children the full horror of war and the extreme barbarity that it can lead the most civilised nations into.

Children of France, remember that admirable men have sacrificed much to conquer the freedom that you enjoy.

But remember too that war is terrible and it is criminal.

Let us ensure that the risk of seeing such barbarity triumph has been eliminated from the world that we bequeath to you.

Let the memory of the great crime that we are commemorating today encourage you to work for peace among men.

Let this memory help you to understand that European construction had to take place to halt the endless cycle of resentment and vengeance.

Let this memory help you to understand why the reconciliation between France and Germany is a kind of miracle, and why nothing must lead us to sacrifice this friendship after so many hardships that have been shared by the French and the Germans.

Children of France, be proud of you elders, who have given you so much, and be proud of France, in whose name they gave their lives.

Love France as they loved France, without hating others.

Love France because it is your country and you have no other.

Vive la République !
Vive la France !

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