If, in fact, only Missak Manouchian and his wife Mélinée enter the Pantheon on Wednesday February 21, with them, it is a bit like the 22 other resistance fighters in the group, and more generally the foreign resistance, who are celebrated.
Jews, Spaniards, Hungarians, Poles, Italians, Romanians, Armenians, communists, anti-fascists… Alongside Missak Manouchian, pantheonized this Wednesday February 21, 2024, eighty years to the day after her execution, there were no less than 22 resistance fighters having been hunted down and then arrested by the special brigades of the French police for having defied the Nazi occupiers. Among the 23 accused, only one woman: Olga Bancic, born in 1912 in Kishinev, Romania, into a Jewish family. The Nazis having the rule not to execute women in France, recalls Humanity, she will be transferred to Germany and guillotined on May 10, 1944, the date of her birthday, in Stuttgart. She was not recognized as “Dead for France” until late, on December 14, 2011.
The other 22 defendants come from all over Europe. Furthermore, most are young, even very young when they are executed. If Celestino Alfonso, Jonas Geduldig and Spartaco Fontanot are under 30 years old, Thomas Elek, Georges Cloarec, Rino Della Negra, Maurice Fingercweig, Léon Goldberg, Robert Witchitz and Roger Rouxel are not even 20 years old.
Those who were on the “Red Poster”
Ten of them appear on the now famous “Red Poster”, a propaganda poster whose objective was to discredit the French resistance. It ultimately had the opposite effect. Above, we find Manouchian, described as an Armenian, leader of the gang. But also : Celestino Alfonsoa 27-year-old Spanish communist recognized as “Dead for France” on May 14, 1945, Spartaco Fontanota 21-year-old Italian communist recognized as “Dead for France” on August 29, 1946, Marcel Rajman (20 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on April 17, 1972), Szlama Grzywacz (34 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on the 18th February 2023), Wolf Wasjbrot (19 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on February 26, 1956) and Maurice Fingercweig (19 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on June 10, 1971), who were four Polish Jews, Thomas Elek (19 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on April 13, 1947), Robert Witchitz (19 years old, recognized as “Death for France” February 22, 1946) and Joseph Boczor (38 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on April 17, 1972), who were, for their part, three Hungarian Jews.
Those who were not on the “Red Poster”
There is also the French Georges Cloarec, 19 years old, entered the FTP because he was unable to join Free France in London. He was also recognized as “Death for France”. Jonas Geduldiga 26-year-old Polish Jew, recognized as “Dead for France” on April 17, 1972. Emeric Glasz, a 41-year-old Hungarian for whom “life is worthless without freedom”. He was recognized as “Death for France” on August 3, 1971. Lajb (Léon) Goldberg, a Polish Jew who had escaped the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup unlike the rest of his family. He was executed at Mont Valérien at the age of 20, and was recognized as “Death for France” on February 15, 1949. Stanislas Kubacki, a 36-year-old Polish communist activist, recognized as “Dead for France” on November 28, 1945.
Cesare Luccarinia 22-year-old Italian anti-fascist, recognized as “Dead for France” on April 18, 1946. Armenak Arpen Manoukiana 44-year-old Armenian communist, recognized as “Dead for France” on September 18, 1972. Le Français Roger Rouxel19 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on December 14, 1945. L’Italien Antoine Salvadori24 years old and recognized as “Death for France” on December 18, 1945. Solomon Schapiroa 34-year-old Polish Jew, recognized as “Dead for France” on June 28, 1971. Amedeo Usseglioan Italian communist, 33 years old, recognized as “Dead for France” on June 22, 2005. Finally, we also include among them the Italian Rino Della Negra, a young 19-year-old footballer who everything seemed predestined for a career in the world of football before his summons to the STO, his refusal and his choice to take up arms. He was recognized as “Death for France” on November 24, 1950.