Location in relation to the surroundings

On the top of the Zvonica (Belltower) hill above the Váh river and opposite the ruins of Strečno castle.

Text of the inscription

QUE S EPANOUISSE LA FRATERNITE NEE DES FLAMMES DE L INSURRECTION QUE LES FLEURS DES CHAMPS ORNENT LES TOMBES DES BRAVES A LA GLOIRE ETERNELLE DES FILS DE FRANCE PORTES PAR LA MARSEILLAISE A DES EXPLOITS HEROIQUES ET TOMBES EN VAINQUEURS DANS LA LUTTE COMMUNE POUR NOTRE BONHEUR ET CELUI DE L HUMANITE

Nech kvitne bratstvo z ohňa povstania Nech hroby padlých venčia kvety lúk Na večnú slávu synom Francúzska Ich k činom odvážnym viedla Marseillaisa A v boji spoločnom padli – zvíťazili Za šťastie naše i za šťastie ľudstva.

Shall the brotherhood from the fire of uprising flourish shall the graves of the fallen be covered by meadow flowers to the eternal fame of the sons of France Marseillaisa led them to their brave acts the fell in battle – victorious for the happines of the humankind and ours

Emile AUDOIN, Jean BIRAY, René BONOT, Paul BOISBOURDIN, Marcel Burgy, René BRULIN, Pierre COURREGELONGUE, Antoine CERTAIN, Jean Paul COSSARD, Jacques CRANSAC, Maurice DAUCOURT, Jean DUBOS, Pierre DUBREUIL, Joseph FABRE, Robert FERRANDIER, Auguste FERRE, René FEUNETTE, Gérard FORESTIER, René GALLET, Jacques GRIPEL, Edouard HEDOUX, René JALAIS, Antoine JANNONE, Gabriel JANOT, André JARMUZEVSKI, Célestin JOUBIER, Raymond KERN, Armand LAMARQUE, Georges LAURENS, Pierre LAURENT, Ernest LAVAL, Jean LEDEANT, Francois LE GOFFF, Jean Luc LEHMANN, Laurice LEROUGE, Charles MARAIS, Maurice MARTIN, Jean NEYMOND, René PARISSE, Jean PENAIN, PRIMAULT, Francois PROCOT, Louis QUERNIARD, Bernard ROSENBLUM, Marcel REYMARD, SACCADAS, Maurice TARRIERE, Jean TOMASI, Oger VANDERHEYDEN, Rémy VILATTE, André VINCENT, Jean DELPUCHE, Francois PIERRE, Paul BARQUIN

General description

On one side of the monument is a relief of the two soldiers with weapons. On the other side is a list of 56 French partisans that fought in Strečno canyon. The two other sides bear inscriptions in French and Slovak language dedicated to the fallen soldiers. Underneath the monument made of Spiš travertine there is a crypt with the remains of 24 soldiers who lost their lives here.

Condition

Good

The circumstances of unveiling

STREČNO MEMORIAL FOR FRANCH PARTISANS The Memorial for Franch Partisans in Strečno, situated on the hill called Zvonica, was erected as an expression of gratitude to French partisans for their help in the Slovak National Uprising in 1944-45. The French soldiers came to Slovakia after they had escaped from German POW camps. In August 1944 they formed the partisan group ‘Détachement français des combattants en Tchécoslovaquie’ leaded by Captain Georges de Lannurien. They participated in the battles and actions at Strečno Valley, Turiec, Jánova Lehota, Žiar nad Hronom, Jalná, Senohrad, Krupina and other places. They were incorporated in the First Czechoslovak Partisan Brigade ‘M. R. Štefánik’ and in other detachments. This is the burial place of 58 French partisans, who died in the Slovak National Uprising. The memorial, the work of L. Beisetzer and L. Snopek, was unveiled on 29th August, 1956. the memorial was built from white Spiš travertine between 1952 – 1956 to honour French partisans who lost their lives in Slovak national uprising.

Later history

The monument was declared national cultural heritage on November 5^th 1963 and was renovated in 1988 – new stairs were built, finished a parking plot, pillars for flags. Annual celebrations take place at the anniversary of the Slovak antional uprising. In 2000 students of Lyon Lycee and Gymnazium Metodova dedicated a plaque honouring French patriots fighting in Slovakia.

Contemporary importance

Annual commemorative events take place here with the attendance of the representatives of the Slovak republic as well as the French republic, corps diplomatic from various countries, participants of the Slovak national uprising.

Publications, sources, links

www.pamiatky.sk/po/po/Details?id=9509

www.vets.cz/vpm/mista/obec/5954-strecno/