Elie di Russo: "Honoring the forgotten heroes of the Liberation"
In Hyères, Elie di Russo paid tribute to the soldiers of the 1ère DFL who liberated the town 82 years ago.
82 years ago, the soldiers of the 2nd brigade of the Première Division Française Libre (1ère DFL), arriving from La Londe-les-Maures, fought fierce battles to liberate the town, notably at the hamlet of Les Borrels.
This event marked a turning point, making Les Borrels the first fraction of the continental territory, after the islands of Hyères, to regain freedom. Colonel Garbay, who commanded the brigade, had then established his command post there.
Diversity
On August 19, the ceremony highlighted the diverse and united composition of this 1st army of Free France, which crossed the Mediterranean to liberate the country.
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“It was mostly made up of soldiers from Africa and the Pacific: Goumiers, Senegalese, Algerian, and Cameroonian skirmishers, Spahis, Free French fighters, and committed resistance members,” recalls Elie di Russo, former deputy mayor of Hyères and special deputy of the Les Borrels fraction.
He emphasizes that this diversity was their strength: “These soldiers of different colors, of different faiths, some prayed, others did not, political commitments were secondary, only the love of the Fatherland and the values of the Republic mattered.”
A path of memory to pass on
To preserve this memory, a "Path of Memory" was initiated in partnership with the association Le Souvenir Français.
“This route crosses the municipality, linking Les Borrels, the first liberated continental section, to the Giens peninsula, the last fraction of Provence to be liberated. The purpose of this initiative is to pass history on to the youngest. This path of memory must allow everyone and the young generations to also feel this love for France and its values of liberty, equality, fraternity to which we are morally and deeply attached,” adds Elie di Russo.
Tribute to Louis Pellegrino
Finally, the former special deputy wishes to pay tribute to Louis Pellegrino: “A municipal worker in Les Borrels, he enlisted at only 17 years old in the 6th regiment of Senegalese skirmishers of the 1ère DFL. Decorated with the Croix de Guerre 39-45, this voluntary fighter continued the fight all the way to Germany.”
The ceremony concluded with thanks to the flag-bearers, patriotic associations, particularly President Dujarric for his work of remembrance, as well as the municipal services who made this celebration possible to never forget the price of freedom.
Photos Philippe OLIVIER.