The gendarmerie and the resistance in the land of Var
1944 – 2024. 80 years later, the memory remains.
The year 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Débarquement en Provence, a significant moment for many local authorities, memorial, cultural, and patriotic associations.
On June 12, it was in Aups, in the haut Var, that tribute was paid to Ernest Millet and gendarme François Duchatel. These two Varois resistance fighters were murdered by the milice on June 12, 1944, not far from the villa rose, at the exit of this commune on the road leading to the lac de Sainte-Croix. A tribute paid 80 years later, to the day, in the presence of the deputy mayor, families, and patriotic and memorial associations with their flag-bearers, including the Souvenir Français, the Anciens Combattants, the ACSPMG (Histoire et patrimoine de la gendarmerie) and the Mouvement Unis de la Résistance. After the reading of the recall of facts, Magali Marcheval, who initiated the creation of the group of memory keepers, read a text recalling the memorial pilgrimage of the route du Verdon, which Robert Millet (son of Ernest), the last president of the MUR and the last president of the sons of the Morts pour la France, undertook every year.
YOUNG GENERATION
The presence of the young generation, with Kali and Théo, did not go unnoticed. In impeccable uniforms, sporting the emblem of the 'Cadets de la gendarmerie' of Var, from the SNU (phase 2 - class of 2023), they are committed within the Souvenir Français of Hyères as flag-bearers. As a reminder, the triangular stele erected in 1945 marks the very site of the tragedy, with the sacrifice of two Varois resistance fighters who fought for the freedom of France, which was then occupied by the enemy.
Several places in Var bear the name of this gendarme, assigned since 1943 to the brigade d'Aups, who joined the resistance, like others of his comrades from the gendarmerie of Var such as Alexandre Berta, René Scheers, Henri Chevalier, and Joseph Veilex. Committed to the duty of memory, the ACSPMG unveiled the commemorative plaque, now affixed to the side of the stele. This plaque, made of fully enameled Volvic stone, was created in partnership with the ceramic workshop of the Institut des Invalides de la Légion Étrangère de Puyloubier. It incorporates the symbols of the association, the map of the department of Var, the 2024 label, and the words 'So that the flame of remembrance is never extinguished'.
GUARDIAN OF MEMORY
Guardian of memory, the ACSPMG has, since 2024, been responsible for the care and maintenance, with the authorization of the Conseil départemental du Var, of the stele paying tribute to Ernest Millet and François Duchatel, who were murdered by the milice on June 12, 1944. 'This memorial action is part of the roadmap set by the ACSPMG. What could be more legitimate for our association, whose goal is to preserve and protect the heritage of the gendarmerie, than to pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom, like gendarme François Duchatel. The unveiling of this plaque highlights the resistance actions of the gendarmerie during the Débarquement de Provence and is part of the labeling for the 80th anniversary of the liberation,' says Nicolas Moulin, president of the ACSPMG. He adds: 'In Aups, we presented the memorial plaque and screened the film made by Philippe Natalini, a retired gendarme, on the heroic actions of the Varois gendarmes, produced by Provence 44 Productions, of which the ACSPMG is a partner. A sober tribute was paid at the military plot of the Souvenir Français of La Valette-du-Var, where gendarme Duchatel is buried. The flame of remembrance was laid in the presence of our association's flag and the local branch of the Médaille Militaire. It is important to pass this duty of memory on to the younger generations, and their presence was highly noticed.' 'Currently, the ACSPMG is finalizing preparations for its traveling exhibition on 'the gendarmerie of Var and the Débarquement de Provence' which it will present with its partners (Comité d'Entente des Associations Patriotiques, Souvenir Français, UNPRG, Médaille Militaire, etc.) and whose content is the result of work by Lieutenant-Colonel (ER) Hyvernat. Furthermore, the flag of the 'Mouvement Unis de la Résistance' association is kept as heritage by the Souvenir Français committee of Hyères, a committee which works alongside the ACSPMG for the maintenance of the Aups stele,' points out Nicolas Moulin.
Nicolas TUDORT – Photos Souvenir Français and ACSPMG.