Breton Resistance Monument Vandalized Ahead of 80th Anniversary Event
The Breton resistance monument in Sérent, Morbihan, near the Saint-Marcel maquis, was defaced in an incident claimed by the Earth Uprisings, according to the prefecture's announcement on Saturday. The act of vandalism occurred during the night from May 31 to June 1, 2024, and was subsequently confirmed by dated images posted on the Ouest-France website.
As France gears up to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Landing, Liberation, and Victory, with two ceremonies scheduled in Morbihan on June 5, including one in Sérent, the prefect of Morbihan has voiced strong condemnation of this desecration. The monument, known as La Nouette, comprises a high granite tower topped with a lantern of the dead, a symbolic memorial visible from the dual carriageway linking Rennes to Vannes.
The vandalism acts included a banner with the phrase 'the living in resistance' and multiple stickers affixed to the granite structure. The prefect has announced his intention to file a formal complaint against the perpetrators on Monday, treating the incident with the utmost severity due to its insult to the memory of the fighters who fell defending France.
- The Earth Uprisings is an environmental activist group known for its direct actions aimed at drawing attention to various social and ecological causes.
- The Breton resistance monument of La Nouette holds significant historical value, having been a symbol of the French resistance during World War II, and its location near the Saint-Marcel maquis adds to its historical importance.
