Day of remembrance in tribute to the Durandy family, to the Resistance in the hinterland and to the “Righteous Among the Nations” in SAUSSES

September 10, 2022

This year, the village of Sausses is hosting the day of commemoration of the Resistance and the Righteous of its valleys. The association Les Enfants et Amis Abadi has been invited to this day organised by Infos des Vallées. Our president, Andrée Poch-Karsenti, will speak there to tell her story and that of the Marcel network.

The day will be held on September 18, 2022. Through lectures and ceremonies, you will be able to discover or rediscover the History of these heroes and honour their memory, like that of the family of Yves DURANDY, who protected a family from Nazi barbarity in SAUSSES in 1943.

The day is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of those years. Even the dress code invites you to travel in time: berets, braces, flowery dresses and hats give the village streets a 1940s air.

A word from the president

Fighters or simple civilians, each worked to defend an ideal, often at the cost of their lives. This work is part of a collective duty of remembrance that allows our society to live in peace. Let us remember the extraordinary deeds of ordinary people without forgetting the context. Fear, threats, courage or cowardice did not have the same values as today. The only worthwhile work is passing on history without any judgement. As you stroll through the magnificent village of Sausses, you will discover tragic stories and moving ones. They are their choices, their stories, their sacrifice. Let us not judge – but above all, let us not forget!

Mr Jean-Marc Pallanca
President, Infos Des Vallées

The programme

10 a.m.: The village opens

10.30 a.m.: Lecture

• Andrée Poch-Karsenti : Andrée was hidden by the Rous family of Annot during the Second World War. Jean and his wife were awarded the title of “Righteous Among the Nations” for this act. Andrée will give her testimony and talk about the action of Odette and Moussa Abadi and the setting up of the Marcel network.
  In the first half of 1943, Odette Rosenstock and Moussa Abadi, with great foresight, anticipated events and laid the foundations of a resistance network. With the help of Monseigneur Paul Rémond, they developed a network to hide Jewish children so that they could escape the hunt and deportation. The Marcel network was operational from September 10, 1943: the rescue of the children began.

  Meeting point: Place Saint-Joseph at 10.30 a.m.

11.15 a.m.: Ceremony at the war memorial

12.30 p.m.: Reception

2.30 p.m.: Lecture

• Mr Panicacci, President of the National Museum of the Resistance, will talk about the fighting in the Daluis gorges

  Meeting point: Place Saint-Pons at 2.30 p.m.

4.30 p.m.: Lecture

• Stories of Sausses people : Testimonies of people from Sausses during the Second World War

  Screening from 4.30 p.m. in the covered hall.

The exhibitions

Marie, Thimothée and Yves Durandy – Story of the “Righteous” of Sausses: the story of the Durandy family, who in 1944 hid Mark and Irène Nekhom, Jewish children, in the village of Sausses

Stories of Sausses people: Testimonies of people from Sausses during the Second World War. Screening from 4.30 p.m. in the covered hall.