Nurses, soldiers, tankers but also period vehicles and accordion. In Douvres-la-Délivrande, near Caen (Calvados), this Saturday, June 11, 2022, it’s back in 1944 ! After two years of forced stoppage by the health crisis, this colorful parade allowed the public and curious passers-by to celebrate the Liberation of France and of this town, left by the Germans on June 6.
Blue, white, red outfits
“We are super fans have fun Christine and Morgane, two nurses who work in Dover. And we’re really proud !” Exactly, in the American Jeep walking past them, a woman in a 1940s Red Cross civilian nurse outfit greets them. “I made my cape with the real buttons and the period badge”proudly explains Coraline.
In the middle of all bicycles decorated with tricolor cockades and French flags, Wilfried awaits the start of the second round of the parade in his British soldier’s khaki outfit. For this 49-year-old history buff who works at the port of Ouistreham, the opportunity was too good. “I almost never do, it’s one of the first times, he enthuses. I have parts that come from everywhere.”
For some, this annual meeting is above all important to pay tribute to the men and women who contributed to the Liberation. Laurence, 61, was born in Douvres-la-Délivrande. Today she wears the nurse’s outfit that her mother had at the time:
Many of us are children of people who lived through June 6, 1944. This duty of memory that we have is very important.
And to parade, she swapped the bike for a pram, also vintage.
Getting back to the party
The mayor of Douvres-la-Délivrande, Thierry Lefort, is delighted to have been able to organize the event this year, after two years of health crisis. “We need to get back to the party“, he explains. Even if he recognizes a slowdown compared to 2019, the year of the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings. “We had a little more difficulty in bringing together the period vehicles.“
He is especially happy to be able to once again pay tribute to the soldiers of the Liberation. “We must perpetuate the memory so that the events of almost 80 years ago never happen again. I hope that this situation of peace will last for a very long time.” A celebration marked by a glass of friendship, followed by a musette ball to the rhythm of the accordion and songs from 1944.