What happened in Draguignan during the Second World War? Why is the city home to an American cemetery? Or, what was the first Var beach to welcome the allied forces?
So many questions to which the students of the Léon-Blum high school will now find answers, during an exhibition dedicated to on the 80th anniversary of the landing of Provence.
At the initiative of François Auclair, professor of literature and history within the establishment, more than forty students in the first year of hotel and catering, final CAP “cooking”, and final CAP “multi-purpose commercial team member” , has put his hand to work since the start of the school year.
“This exhibition is based on the observation that many students were not aware of the presence of the Germans in Draguignan, during the Second World War, explains the professor. The idea is therefore that they appropriate the history of the town in which they live.”
Three main axes established
Monday afternoon, supported by Béatrice Mireur, librarian professor, the ten students present at the documentation and information center (CDI) refined the last details of the exhibition which will be visible from May 13, and will continue until the end of June.
Mini parachutes, models, explanatory texts embellished by the students, photos and other archive documents which have been the subject of a multitude of researches on the internet, took place on the eight large panels installed in the center of the room. All the high school students, as well as the teaching staff, will be able to visit it in turn.
“We have established three main axes, including the theme of the Germans in Draguignan during the occupation. This will allow the students to discover, for example, that the old Hôtel Bertin – the large building is located on Boulevard Foch – was became the seat of the kommandantur.”
On Canadel beach
Another important axis and not the least, the landing of Provence, in all its entirety.
The opportunity for high school students to learn that American paratroopers have landed on the Mitan site, in La Motte.
This will encourage the authorities of the time to create an American cemetery in Draguignan. An emblematic place in Dragon City, this is where many soldiers rest.
Third important point of this memory work, a trip of all the students took place this Tuesday, May 7, to Rayol-Canadel, the first liberated commune.
It was here, on the famous Canadel beach, at the foot of Cap Nègre, that, during the night of August 15, 1944, the Allies decided to launch Operation “Dragoon”.
On the site, the students were able to benefit from the explanations of Yves Boyer, secretary general of the Association of veterans of the 1st African commando group and the 3rd shock group.
Also a member of French Souvenir, the man made a historical reminder in connection with the landing and the role played by his brothers in arms in the liberation of France.
A long moment was also devoted to the memory of the twelve members of the African commandos who lost their lives during the capture of Cap Nègre.
They rest today at the Rayol necropolis.
“This whole process is an awakening to the history of its territory, the students thus become smugglers”, concludes François Auclair.
