Guy Moquet's letter
M. Sarkozy's first day was a busy one. After his inauguration he laid wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldier and at a statue of deGaulle. He decreed that all high school children should read Guy Moquet's letter, and then met up with Angela Merkel.
As we left the cinema yesterday we walked past the town war memorial. At the centre is a big, long list of the men who were killed during the first world war. Then on either side shorter lists. On the right the men who fell in the field of battle during the second world war. On the left those who were "shot or deported". Bordeaux was in the occupied zone. With Sarkozy's first day, it illustrates how close you live to history here.
Guy Moquet was a lad of 16 when France was invaded. He lived in Paris and committed himself to resistance (leaflets and pamphlets). He was denounced and arrested in 1941, acquitted at trial but imprisoned anyway because he was a Communist (he's 17 now). Then a German officer is assassinated and Hitler orders the execution of 50 prisoners. Guy Moquet is selected, apparently by the Vichy government, and shot after writing this letter home.
http://perso.orange.fr/mairieleslogesenjosas/Accueil/Historique_-_Dossiers/Document_-_Guy_Mocquet/document_-_guy_mocquet.htm
The letter is a child's farewell to his family. Simple.
I think a French A level student doing a project could very well discuss the significance of the president's first day in office.
As we left the cinema yesterday we walked past the town war memorial. At the centre is a big, long list of the men who were killed during the first world war. Then on either side shorter lists. On the right the men who fell in the field of battle during the second world war. On the left those who were "shot or deported". Bordeaux was in the occupied zone. With Sarkozy's first day, it illustrates how close you live to history here.
Guy Moquet was a lad of 16 when France was invaded. He lived in Paris and committed himself to resistance (leaflets and pamphlets). He was denounced and arrested in 1941, acquitted at trial but imprisoned anyway because he was a Communist (he's 17 now). Then a German officer is assassinated and Hitler orders the execution of 50 prisoners. Guy Moquet is selected, apparently by the Vichy government, and shot after writing this letter home.
http://perso.orange.fr/mairieleslogesenjosas/Accueil/Historique_-_Dossiers/Document_-_Guy_Mocquet/document_-_guy_mocquet.htm
The letter is a child's farewell to his family. Simple.
I think a French A level student doing a project could very well discuss the significance of the president's first day in office.
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