The Etoile Protest of November 11, 1940 : History and Memories

Abstract 0

The Paris student demonstration on November 11, 1940, has been commemorated more than studied. There has not been much information, but French and German archives now offer new developments. Prior to November 11, police records show an anti-German spirit within the Paris population, especially among youth in school. Forbidden by the Occupier, the November 11 commemoration at Etoile was nevertheless envisaged. The archives show that the Paris police and the rector knew about the plan several days earlier, which counters the previous reports that the demonstration was decided on the evening of November 8 by a small group among whom François de Lescure, a communist activist but not known as such. The violent intervention by German troops was not planned as the German archives prove. The study also shows how the communists took credit for and reframed the event, while later on, Gaullism too reframed it for its memory.