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The President of the Republic should announce, Sunday, June 18, the entry into the Pantheon of two heroes of the 20th century, Missak and Mélinée Manouchian. After escaping the Armenian genocide, they had become resistance fighters within a group close to the Communist Party.
He will be the first foreign resistant to enter the Pantheon. Missak Manouchian, survivor of the Armenian genocide and refugee in France, communist activist, a great resistance fighter at the head of one of the most active armed groups against the Nazis, the Manouchian group. France will honor him. A recognition greeted by the son of one of his comrades in arms. In 1943, the Manouchian group multiplied the attacks and sabotage against the Germans. At the time, Nazi propaganda presents them as terrorists.
80 years to the day after his execution
On the famous red poster, Missak Manouchian and his group are represented as a criminal gang. The red poster will however become one of the symbols of these heroes of the Resistance. On February 21, 1944, Manouchian and 21 members of his group were shot at Mont-Valérien. Missak Manouchian will enter the Pantheon accompanied by his wife, Mélinée, also resistant. He should enter the Pantheon on February 21, 80 years to the day after his execution. The last to have had this honor is the Franco-American Joséphine Baker.