The portraits are displayed along the cours des 50-Otages -

J. Urbach / 20 Minutes

It is one of the main arteries of downtown Nantes, 800 meters long, where tram line 2 and almost all demonstrations pass.

You also probably borrow it very often ... But do you know the origin of the name of the Cours des 50-Otages?

Like last year, and until Monday, an outdoor exhibition tells or reminds the people of Nantes of a dark page in the history of the city.

On tarpaulins 2 meters high, an artist made 48 black and white portraits, based on old photos.

They pay homage to the dozens of men shot during the Second World War in Nantes (Halvêque district), Châteaubriant and in Paris (Mont-Valérien fort).

It was precisely October 22, 1941.

The number 50 is remembered

In retaliation for the assassination of Lieutenant-Colonel Hotz (which took place on rue du Roi-Albert), then responsible for the occupation troops in Loire-Inferieure, the Nazi authorities ordered the execution of 50 prisoners.

It is finally a list of 48 names which is established, but the first number will remain in the memories.

“They were political activists, trade unions, ex-combatants…, details Gildas Salaün, city councilor in charge of intangible heritage.

They were men of all ages whose courage is to be saluted.

The most famous of them, the communist activist Guy Môquet lost his life in Châteaubriant like 26 other resistance fighters interned in the Choisel camp.

He was then 17 years old.

The portraits of the 48 hostages - Chantal Trubert / DR

In their memory, General de Gaulle (who has his statue at the end of the course) made Nantes the first city "Companion of the Liberation".

The city council will decide three years later to rename the “cours de l'Erdre” in “cours des 50-Otages”.

The obelisk, opposite the prefecture, will be inaugurated in 1952. And seventy-six years after their death, the people of Nantes can once again discover faces.

"It is true that it allows to better realize, judge Marie, 14 years old.

I knew a little about this episode because we studied it in history class last year.

But it's much more telling to see them all like that, in front of us.

"

A ceremony is organized on Saturday at 10 am Place du Pont-Morand, in the presence of the mayor of Nantes.

  • History

  • Second World War

  • Nazism

  • Resistance