THE Normandy landingof which we commemorate 80 years this June 6, 2024, had “direct consequences” in the Marne and the Ardennes, explains on France Bleu Champagne-Ardenne Hervé Chabaudformer editor-in-chief of the Union newspaper and 20th century specialist.
“On the night of June 5 to 6, 1944, actions were carried out by the Resistance, requested in advance, with messages broadcast on London radio. They resulted in sabotage, mainly on the railway network”he explains. “The canals, which are very used at that time, and all aerial and underground communications are also targeted, so as to both slow down information on the sector and the German reinforcements likely to be sent in the direction beaches of Normandy”in order to ensure the smooth running of D-Day.
Marnais involved in the Landing
But these operations carried out by the Resistance led to reprisalsbecause “from the day of the landing, the Germans’ objective was to terrorize the civilian populations. One of the first consequences, we see it” Châlons-en-Champagne from June 6, 1944, where 7 resistance fighters are sentenced to death and shot. “What is completely exceptional is that there is truly an execution the same day. The trial begins at 9:30 a.m., they are sentenced at the end of the morning, and at 5:30 p.m., they are at the Butte des Fusillés between Châlons-sur-Marne and l’Épine. they were informed that the Landing had taken place”, nuance Hervé Chabaud, “which gave them more strength to sing the Marseillaise before being put to death.”
A Marnais is also directly mobilized on the Normandy beaches with the 176 other members of the Commando Kieffer : Daniel Coppin, originally from Venteuil. Other inhabitants of the department “were involved in the preparation of the Landing” adds the 20th century specialist. “We have a certain number of Companions of the Liberation, for example, who are from Marne and who joined the Resistance very early on.”
On the civilian side, the Marnais and Ardennes learn about D-Day “in bits and pieces”explains Hervé Chabaud. “There are people who listen to Radio Londres”And “if they do not necessarily rejoice immediately because there is always the fear of the Occupier”, “there is a hope, a glimmer” which allows residents to say “we will be able to see the Liberation appear”he concludes.
