http://www.ouroux-en-morvan.com - The Maquis Bernard.

Maquis Bernard		Special Air Service
	- Ecussons -
Forces françaises de l'intérieur		Who Dares Wins (Qui ose gagne)

The cemetery franco anglais of the Maquis Bernard, High place of resistance in Morvan.

I - 1 Its history

Under the Occupation (1940 - 1944), the Morvan whose geographical and administrative characters were rather accentuated, constituted an ideal area refuge and sheltered about thirty maquis.

The commune of Ouroux-en-Morvan sheltered the maquis Bernard, High place of resistance in Morvan. This maquis was one of oldest and the most significant maquis of this territory. It was founded in 1943 by the captain Louis AUBIN and counted to 1200 men at the beginning of September 44 and the presence to his sides as from June 44 at the same time of the State departmental Major of the resistance nivernaise and the English parachutists of the "Special Air Service", the famous S.A.S.

Moreover, the Franco-English cemetery, where 27 graves are maintained in remembrance of all the died combatants, recalls that Ouroux-en-Morvan was the PC of the Nivernaise Resistance. This maquis deeply marked the life of all the area, in particular by the support which it found beside a population particularly motivated and devoted to its cause. Its presence and the many fights which it carried out against the occupant allowed this part of the territory nivernais to be released before the remainder of the Nievre and the commune became prefecture of Nièvre during several weeks, as from May 1944.

Extracts of documents addressed by Mr BACHAUD under honorary prefect to the mayor of the commune testify to this reality, here is the extract more striking:

"The General de Gaulle had indicated Mr Jacquin, a senior official of Finances, as Prefect of released Nièvre. Indeed, all the Prefects in place under the Vichy government were to be replaced. Mr Jacquin chooses me as principal private secretary. It decided to be fixed in Nièvre where it arrived Sunday preceding the Ascension Day (1944). After a short stay in Châtillon-en-Bazois, for reasons of security, Mr Jacquin came to Nevers. I lodged it in my apartment, Place SAINT LAURENT.

But, a few days after the arrival of the Prefect in Nièvre, the Colonel Roche Commandant Departmental of FFI and P.Gauthe which had been charged to constitute the Departmental Committee of the Release, had to leave precipitately Nevers, the Gestapo being presented at their residence.

They found initially asylum to St Honoré les Bains where they remained a few weeks. But the communications were difficult and this separation posed problems. The General Staff FFI being ultimately installed in the wood of Coeuzon, the Prefect and myself rejoined them. It is of Nevers that Mr Jacquin and me left for Ouroux after a stopover to Champvert, on standby of a vehicle. Mr Jacquin was lodged to l’Huis-Miré.

One needed for the Prefecture a minimum of hardware to function. Having learned that the Pean abbot, a sure patriot, has got a machine 'Roneo', we asked him to lend it to us, what it did readily. A typist was needed. A young girl student on holiday and who could type, she placed herself voluntarily at our disposal.

With the prefecture of Ouroux, one prepared the decisions that there would be to take once released Nièvre and the Prefect installed to Nevers. Potential prefecture for the whole of Nièvre, it could be "full exercises" for the released part of Morvan Nivernais. Mr Jacquin Prefect accepted several Mayors or personalities to regulate local problems."

(Photo of the 45th birthday of the maquis to Ouroux en Morvan 06/08/1989. Divisional music of the 602th regiment of circulation of Dijon).  During this ceremony, ten old the "Special Action British Service" took part in this commemoration which was brilliant and solemn. An exhibition of equipment, uniforms and objects having milked various all with Resistance in Morvan and more particularly with Anglo-American parachutings were organized. On the first floor of the town hall, a concrete evocation of Resistance revived other memories, those of the daily of the men of the maquis, fact of explosive hardware, of weapons, radio, iron rations, soaps or of cigarettes.

In order to sensitize the tourists, local population, and the individuals of passage on the role of the maquis in the Morvan and more precisely that of the maquis Bernard, a site was retained and will be the subject of a tourist installation and a particular development.

This development will be carried out on the one hand, by the installation of an effigy in edge of D.977 (a) road, to the place Pont du Boulard says which was very attended by the men of the maquis and gave access to the maquis. This statue will represent a man of the maquis with a rifle in shoulder-belt on its right shoulder. In addition, from specific installations (car park, picnic tables, panels of information) also will be installed. The unit is located on D 977 (a) road, connecting Corbigny to Montsauche, place of road frequentation significant.

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