Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
Encyclopedia
The Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura were a group of maquis
fighters in the French resistance
during World War II.
On 11 November 1943, the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura, on orders from Colonel Henri Romans-Petit
, took possession of the town of Oyonnax
in the Ain departement, and paraded up to the war memorial
laying a wreath in the form of the croix de Lorraine with the inscription Les vainqueurs de demain à ceux de 14–18 (the conquerors of tomorrow to those of 14–18).
After a minute of silence and a rendition of the Marseillaise with the crowd, they returned to their camps in the mountains. A few weeks later, the English-speaking press published the news, which it is said managed to convince Churchill
of the need to arm the French resistance. Oyonnax was rewarded for its zeal by a Médaille de la Résistance
which features on its coat of arms
.
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
fighters in the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
during World War II.
On 11 November 1943, the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura, on orders from Colonel Henri Romans-Petit
Henri Romans-Petit
Henri Romans-Petit was a member of the French Resistance during the Second World War. He organised several maquis, notably the maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura and the maquis de Haute-Savoie.-Biography:...
, took possession of the town of Oyonnax
Oyonnax
Oyonnax is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.It is the second largest commune in the department. Its residents are known as Oyonnaxiens.-Population:-Miscellaneous:...
in the Ain departement, and paraded up to the war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
laying a wreath in the form of the croix de Lorraine with the inscription Les vainqueurs de demain à ceux de 14–18 (the conquerors of tomorrow to those of 14–18).
After a minute of silence and a rendition of the Marseillaise with the crowd, they returned to their camps in the mountains. A few weeks later, the English-speaking press published the news, which it is said managed to convince Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
of the need to arm the French resistance. Oyonnax was rewarded for its zeal by a Médaille de la Résistance
Médaille de la Résistance
The French Médaille de la Résistance was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18,...
which features on its coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
.