Resistance – In Montpellier, graffiti dating back to 1942 discovered on the aqueduct of the Arceaux has been authenticated as a message from the Combat network, revealing a previously unknown historical testimony of World War II.
In Montpellier, inscriptions visible for decades on the aqueduct of the Arceaux have now been formally attributed to the French internal resistance. According to information reported by Midi Libre, these graffiti, discovered a few months ago, long considered simple tags, actually correspond to a message from the Combat network dating back to 1942.
The investigation was conducted by two lawyers from the Montpellier bar, Isabelle Durand and Cédric Amourette. Prompted by a colleague mentioning a family memory related to these inscriptions, they conducted in-depth research with the support of local institutions, including the Resistance museum and the departmental archives of Hérault.
“Combat punishes traitors”
Photographic analyses confirmed the presence of the slogan “Combat punishes traitors,” painted high on a pillar of the aqueduct. This identification was corroborated by period leaflets found in archives, as well as writings of the resistant Henri Frenay, who explicitly mentions a graffiti campaign conducted in several cities in the free zone, including Montpellier.
Still visible due to technical constraints at the time, these markings now constitute a rare testimony of the action of the Combat network. The discoverers now call for their protection and integration into the local memorial journey, in order to highlight this unknown historical heritage. Two other inscriptions, including (…)
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