Societies always seek to integrate past events into the national collective memory, and no nation more than the French. But, the Second World War offered supreme challenges to the French government since France literally underwent not only defeat and occupation, but endured collaboration and a civil war. One of the earliest monuments that sought to remember in war years in an acceptable manner was inaugurated in Troyes, France. But, how did the government find a way to avoid the pitfalls the Années Noires, the “Black Years,” represented? How could such a monument represent the best while carefully marginalizing the worst? That is focus of this lecture as it analyzes the Mémorial de la Résistance Auboise.
Presented by Dr. Simon P. Sibelman, Prof. Emeritus of French, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Prof. Emeritus of French and Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies, Appalachian State University
The audience is invited to bring a lunch to enjoy during the program.
Free coffee available. Cookies provided courtesy of Big Y.
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