This August 22, 2024, Grenoble celebrates the 80th anniversary of its Liberation. The opportunity for the City to remind the general public of the events which led to this victory of freedom and peace, at a key moment in contemporary French history.
By decree of May 4, 1944, Grenoble was honored with the title of “Companion of the Liberation“. A distinction which rewarded the heroic actions of the local Resistance against the Nazi occupiers and at the same time recalled the heavy price paid by these women and men. So many lives sacrificed will contribute to the rout of the enemy and the Liberation of the City on August 22, 1944, with the triumphant arrival in Grenoble of the maquisards, the Frank Groups and the 1is shock battalion, joined by American soldiers from the 143rd infantry regiment.
A few months later, on November 5, 1944, General de Gaulle, then head of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, came to officially salute Grenoble’s commitment. He presented our city with the Cross of Liberation, on Place Pasteur where thousands of Grenoblois who were demonstrating against repression were parked on November 11, 1943.
Celebrating Resistance every day
In the same way as Nantes, Paris, Vassieux-en-Vercors and the Ile de Sein, Grenoble has ensured since 2012 the sustainability of the Order of Liberation, established by General de Gaulle to “reward the people and civil and military communities who have distinguished themselves in the work of the Liberation of France».
Since the end of the Second World War, Grenoble and civil society have tirelessly contributed to maintaining the memory of the episodes which built its Liberation. The people of Grenoble have long known the avenues Jean-Perrot and Marie-Reynoard, the boulevards Jean-Pain and Joseph-Vallier… So many heroes and heroines who gave their lives to save us from infamy, celebrated -are in public spaces.
The commemoration continues today: the Marianne-Cohn elementary school, rue Mélinée-et-Missak-Manouchian or even the Jardin des Plantes renamed Jardin des Plantes Joséphine-Baker have been added, among other names. to the celebration of the Resistance in the daily lives of residents.
The Liberation in the cocktail of entertainment
In addition to the steles, plaques and other monuments installed in all sectors of the city, Grenoble regularly organizes events commemorating the Liberation. These moments invite the general public to look back on the local past, to better illuminate the present and the future.
For these 80 years, the programming promises to be particularly rich. She strives to slip a little of this history into the cocktail of municipal summer events, with the help of institutional and associative partners. Later this fall, on November 5, the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the presentation of the Cross of the Liberation will take place in Grenoble.
Events not to be missed:
Thursday July 4
- Jazz concert at Parc Jean-Verlhac
- Freedom and swing with the Grand Orchester de l’Harmonie de Grenoble, which will play themes from great jazz names of the 1940s such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. 8 p.m.
Wednesday July 10
- As part of Summer Oh! Parks, The Notebooks of Jacques
- The City of Grenoble invites you to delve into the secrets of Jacques, a Grenoble resistance fighter during the Second World War. An event in partnership with the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of Isère. From 14h.
Photo caption: On March 15, Isabelle Durin (violin) and Michaël Ertzscheid (piano) performed film music on the theme of the Second World War, in the auditorium of the Grenoble museum.
Saturday July 20
- Guided tour “1944, from repression to Liberation”
- Relive the last months of the occupation until the entry of American troops into the city on August 22, 1944. Duration: 2 hours – Prices: €9 (reduced: €6) – Each participant must have of 2 TAG tickets – PMR – By the Grenoble Alpes Tourist Office. Also on Saturday August 17. At 10:30 a.m.
Sunday July 21
- Immersive reading on deckchairs “Words towards Freedom”
- As part of Summer Oh! Parks, the Anagramme association invites you to listen to a scripted soundtrack to immerse yourself in the intensity of these crucial moments. For all ears, from 10 years old. Also on Wednesday August 21.
Wednesday August 14
- Ceremony of the Square des Fusillés of Cours Berriat
Thursday August 22
Official ceremonies of the Liberation of Grenoble
- at 10 a.m.: Place de la Résistance
- at 5 p.m.: in front of the plaques of Colonel Johnson and the 1st shock battalion, Human Rights square, in the Jardin de Ville
- 6 p.m.: military music concert and cocktail, at the Jardin de Ville kiosk
- 7:30 p.m.: Liberation ball at the Jardin de Ville
Exhibition of unpublished photos of the Liberation of Grenoble on the gates of the Jardin de Ville
Liberated cinema
As part of the Summer Nocturnes Oh! Parks, the City of Grenoble is offering a cycle of four open-air screenings, in partnership with the Cinémathèque de Grenoble and the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation of Isère. XXL emotions!
- August 7: Goodbye to the children of Louis Malle, the Bastille, 9:30 p.m.
- August 14: Monsieur Batignole by Gérard Jugnot,
parc Jean-Verlhac, 21 h 30 - August 19: A very discreet hero by Jacques Audiard, Museum of the Resistance and the Deportation of Isère, 9:30 p.m.
- August 21: Indigènes by Rachid Bouchareb, Paul-Mistral Park, 9:30 p.m.
