“My father died in the Buchenwald camp, he was 28 years old”: Claude Dilhat leaves the presidency of the Museum of the Resistance and the Deportation of Gers

This Tuesday, the prefecture hosted the general assembly of the association of the Museum of Resistance and Deportation Guy Labédan, Léontine Bordes, Sarah Silber. A special assembly, which saw the president, Claude Dilhat, resign.

You supported the museum project for years. What does this achievement mean to you?

It represents what we owe to respect for the memory, that of those who fought for France, and beyond that, Europe and the world, are free. This also represents the great duty of vigilance that is ours, and above all the duty to strive to achieve impossible fraternity!

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You have a special, personal connection with the museum.

My father died in the Buchenwald camp, he was 28 years old. He was born in Ariège and had been in the resistance towards Marseille. I still have a huge file, but nothing of his history is in the museum. I didn't want there to be any confusion. I will talk about all this in a book. But of course, my choices were influenced by my history.

Does this museum meet your initial aspirations?

Mr. Labedan, the former president, left us a very beautiful museum, rue Pagadéoutes. Rich in books, in authentic documents… But we had to complete the deportation space, and create a Shoah space, which did not exist. There were 3 raids in the department, and 32 righteous people. It was logical and normal to create this space to evoke this aspect of the war. Certainly, the two current rooms are around 150 m2, when the old museum offered 200 m2. The museography was constrained by space, and choices had to be made in the elements presented. But the contents of the reserves can be used to renew the windows or create temporary exhibitions. My last wish as president would be to see such exhibitions in the courtyard. And of course, other associations that would like to exhibit on this theme can also benefit from it!

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Your decision was announced, as was your succession. However, you are not leaving the association…

I will remain on the board of directors to ensure the transition, but I have complete confidence in those who succeed me. I appealed to the members of the board of directors who wanted to renew their functions, to new ones… And I asked Jean-Jacque Sarlat if he wanted to become vice-president.

What does the rise of extremes inspire you, in light of this memory that the museum embodies?

Even in retirement, I retain the rank of Academy inspector, and I remain subject to the duty of reserve! I always thought that Man had within himself everything that was good in the world… And everything that was bad, alas! Hence the need for vigilance.