PrimeMinister Raffarin in Strasburg 60 Years after Liberation from Nazism:Freedom's ideal to boost a Popular Europe in the World

- "A New, Popular Europe in the World is urgent", said Prime Minister Raffarin, at the 60th Anniversary of Strasbourg's Liberation from Nazi Oppression (1944-2004). Freedom to become a symbolic Flag, to Bridge Memory and Future of Enlarged Europe's "New Altar" ?

    

- There is a "primordial need" for a "New, Popular and Democratic Europe", "well alive in Strasbourg", "according to lessons of the Past", but also in order "to meet, Today, an Urgency to make Europe's voice better heard in big Global decisions", "organize better its Institutions, Enlarge and reinforce Europe for balanced Planetary politics and for Peace in the World", stressed here French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

"Our Memory meets our Future" in Strasbourg, Raffarin said, 60 Years since the city was Liberated from Nazism after fierce battles in 1944 : To preserve from errors condemned by History and "meet the Social need for a meaning, in quest of Humanity", "we must make appeal to a Universal concept, a Value beyond material world" :

- "This Value is Freedom : The freedom for which struggled and died many men and women to whom we pay tribute". And "this Freedom is, I believe, today as well as yesterday, European".

- "Let's drop giving up. Let's measure what is really at stake. Let's stand at the height of lessons for Courage, Confidence and Enthousiasm given by Heroes as those who liberated Paris and Strasbourg !",

"Write Europe's Future with Law instead of Arms, in ballot boxes instead of battlefields, offer to new generations Peace and Freedom : That's being really Faithful to the Ideals which inspired those who resisted and struggled 60 years ago".

- "1944 Liberation marked the end of a tragic Nightmare of 4 Years", during which, the borders of Inhumanity were pushed beyond any limits" : At Strasbourg's Alsacian region "the worse was committed". "Evacuation, annexation, nazification, incorporation by force, forced work, brutal oppression, from Shirmeck to Struthof Concentration Camp, without forgetting Tambow".

But, "one of the most brillant pages of history" was written by General Leclerc and his men, according to De Gaulle, by realizing an Oath taken while in Desert to liberate Strasbourg. While general De Lattre helped defend the region, "with our American brothers in arms and other Allies", by countering ennemy's counter-offensive, before crossing the Rhine and accomplishing its mission up to the heart of (Hitler's) 3rd Reich", reminded Raffarin.

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Strasbourg brightly commemorated 60 Years since the symbol-city of European reconciliation, reconstruction and Unity, as well as capital of Human Rights and Parliamentarian Public Debates, was liberated from Nazi Oppression in a deadly battlefield, by inviting 500 Veterans who risked their lives back in 1944, into an exceptional Mega-Ceremony at its central Square, chaired by Prime Minister Raffarin :

- Placed under the key-word "Freedom", over De Gaulle and general Leclerc's portraits, stood Army, Officials and People, while Airplanes crossed Flag-lifting on Cathedral's top, followed by Eluard's world-famous Poem on Liberty, with Orchestra Music playing "Marseilleuse", the French anthem initially composed in Strasbourg during the 1789 Revolution against Feudalism.

After an Inter-Religious event, an exceptional mass symbolically inaugurated a "New Altar" in Strasbourg's impressive Cathedral full of Thousands of People, while Bals, Music, Banquets, Exhibitions, and other Popular events were organized throughout a down-town dressed with French and European Flags.

  Raffarin pointed at Religions' potential contribution on European Values, by observing that "Laicity is not refusing Religion, but, on the contrary, opening a Dialogue between Religion and Politics, at the Public sphere".

During a popular Inter-Faith ceremony at Strasbourg Cathedral's central square, Prime Minister Raffarin was welcomed by Vatican's Apostolic nonce Mgr Baldelli, Rabbin Rene Gutman, and German cardinal Carl Lehmann, Mayence's ArchiBishop Carl Lehman, President of German Conference of Bishops, before assisting at an "exceptional" mess celebrated by Paris' cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger and Strasbourg's ArchiBishop Joseph Dore, in the presence of many officials and religious representatives from Fribourg, Limoges, Bale (Switzerland), or elsewhere, in a huge building full with thousands of People.

Emotional prayers gathered representatives of Christian Catholics and Protestants, Jewish and Muslim communities : - "While my father, an Officer of French Resistance, was welcoming Leclerc at Saverne, my elder brother, incorporated by force at German Nazi Army, was at the East front", reminded a local inhabitant, describing borderline Alsace's particular drama. - "We want to thank God and those who sacrificed their lives so that France becomes anew a country of Human Rights", added another. - "Pray God to safeguard our homeland from any renouncement to evil, and give us the strength to face it with Audace", they concluded.

- "We must be guardians of the invisible Shrine of Memory", stressed Rabin Rene Gutman, speaking earlier at the main Synagogue of Strasbourg, whose Jewish community paid a heavy price during 2nd World War with some "50% refugees, deported or killed". "Servitude's memories were transfigurated by the impressive example of those young soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Liberty". "We hope that France will remain faithful to its noble tradition of defending always and everywhere justice, law and liberty", concluded Gutman, who has a reputation of being active participant to interconfessional gatherings.

- "Memory is our valuable asset that we all join together for Europe", said Paris' Christian cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger. "The exceptional sacrifices made to struggle against the implacable Nazi regime, and Strasbourg's Cathedral itself, are silent calls for new self-renunciations, to guide our action at Present and in the Future, he added. "So that Strasbourg's Message for Liberty becomes anew a fervent appeal".

- "Europe's common Future and Peace cannot be based on Power alone, but on Respect for Liberty and inalienable Dignity of every Human being", stressed Karl Lehmann, archibishop of Mayence and President of Germany's Conference of Bishops. "Those who put an end to the Barbary and Occupation that Nazism had imposed to a large part of Europe", 60 years earlier at this Cathedral, in fact, symbolise Franco - German links, and what's best in European Christian tradition and Values, Lehman concluded.

- "Let the same Courage", which guided "1945's Liberators to become victorious", be "engraved in the Rock" of Cathedral's "New Altar", (inaugurated this day), as "a shrine" for "causes (issues) which call for Commitment and Sacrifice, so that there may be Light", said Strasbourg's archiBishop Joseph Dore. - "We are United to denounce any kind of Oppression, and to strive for Liberation", Dore stressed, after reminding that even Catholic Priests had been deported to Nazi Concentration Camps or killed for helping fugitifs. But he also pointed at historic Strasbourg Mayor Pflimlin's commitment for "Franco-German Cooperation", and as one of the first Presidents of European Parliament

- "Let Light and full Truth shine !", Strasbourg Cathedral's "exceptional" historic mass and chorus asked in conclusion.

 

Transcending more than one Thousand and a half (1.600) Years of History at Europe's Heart, relicas from 5th Century Saints (Amand, first Bishop of Strasbourg, and Odile, the mythic young girl whose popular legend gave her name to the closest Mountain's peak), as well as 11th Century's Pope Leon IX from Strasbourg's region Alsace, were safeguarded inside the brand new 2004 Altar : For Mgr Dore : Symbol for "new commitments, sacrifice, and Light".

"During 5 painful and dramatic years, the darkest in Strasbourg's history, nothing was spared to our city : deportation of jews, enforced incorporation, merciless tracking of dissidents and resistants". "Strasbourg hoped for Freedom with all its Soul, as people hope for someone they love but is far away", said the town's Mayor-Senator, Fabienne Keller.

"Freedom came a foggy November day, brought by heroic men, who fought with self-sacrifice and saw many of their comrades killed, during a long way, through oceans, from Africa until Strasbourg, Leclerc's men kept an Oath taken at Koufra (Libyan Desert) to raise the Flag with the colours of Freedom at Strasbourg Cathedral's spire, and wrote one of the best pages of Freedom's adventures. They came from various regions, Countries and Beliefs. .. But one idea united them, only one horizon guided them : bring Freedom in Strasbourg. 60 years later, we owe them to live free and build a Europe of Peace", concluded Keller.

   

Flag Symbol : From Memory to Future : Famous Maurice LeBrun, who succeeded to lift the tricolor Flag Hundreds of meters up to the top of the spire of the highest Cathedral in Europe, despite a cold November while battles were still going-on around Strasbourg in 1944, to realize an Oath taken in Desert by Leclerc's men, passed over the symbol to the new generation, in 2004. - "I took the initiative to ask our officers to let us lift the flag, but we couldn't find a flag with the right dimension, so we just made one from scratch !", said LeBrun to "SeNas". "It was the 1st time I went up to the top" of Strasbourg Cathedral's spire, and we had to pass through various levels : "First we arrived at the terasse, where we opened a door, and afterwards walked upstairs, until I came out, facing a strong wind", added LeBrun.

- "After 4 Days of hard and heroic struggle, we entered Strasbourg at the afternoon of 23 of November 1944, while battles were still going on around", reminded President of Veterans of 2nd armoured division, (Leclerc's famous "2DB"), Jean-Pierre Martin. "Today, 60 Years later, we are proud of Strasbourg's importance as Symbol-city for Europe's Unity. At this land, source of the same Hell which pushed us to struggle for Liberty, Democracy's fundamental value".

- "Tortured in down-town Strasbourg : It still gives me the shivers today !", says for resistant Wodli ex-refugee Monette Bohrman

- "It seemed unbelievable, then, that Georges Wodli was atrociously tortured in down-towvn Strasbourg, inside a well-known Youth Hostel, so close to many Family Homes around. But whenever I pass by, only to think about that, it still gives me the shivers, even today !" told SeNas ex-refugee Monette Bohrman.

After being arrested with her Family while aged 3, in Southern France, Bohrman returned to a liberated Strasbourg where she became a University professor for Russian and Serbo-Croatian language - "After 1945 Liberation, ex-URSS was popular. Things became hard later, during Cold War. But when it was all over, even an ex-CoE deputy Secretary General, Peter Leuprecht, in view of Enlargement to Moscow, wanted to learn Russian !", Mrs Bohrman told SeNas.

Many other outstanding, simple or famous victims and/or actors of Resistance to -and Liberation from- Nazi Oppression, were reminded at an Exhibition for Strasbourg's history, at its Synagogue and Cathedral. But among them, it's impossible to forget the stories of 1 Year old Jewish Baby "Missing" after being separated from his Family, deported to Concentration camps. The team of Youngsters, aged 15 to 18, who created a Resistance group with Marcel Weinum, but were caught and executed. Or the Catholic Priest from nearby Obernai, Robert Bengol, who saved Jewish Children by hidding them in villages, and asked to translate in Latin a popular jewish prayer to help them sleep quietly overnight. The famous Historian, Marc Bloch, executed in 1943. The couple Madeleine and Andre Elbogen, united even at a no-return trip to Nazi Death-Camp of Aushwitz. Or Bertie Albrecht, a woman who strived to write and publish clandestine Newspapers under Occupation, was arrested, liberated, but again cought and tortured until she was pushed to commit suicide in Nazi jails. The list looks endless.. particularly in the presence, at Strasbourg's ceremonies, of Oradour's Mayor, Raymond Frugier, the notorious Limousin village where more than 642 civilians were massacrated while homes were burned down.

People vote with Flowers for the Right to Memory : at International Military Graveyard, "Unknown Soldiers" plebiscitated !

An astonishing, original event, witnessed by SeNas, was the spontaneous reaction of thousands of People who clearly and massively "voted" at Strasbourg's international Military Cemetery, in favour of the Human Right to Memory, by .. plebiscitating with Flowers in great preference the graves of "Unknown Soldiers" killed from the 1st up to the 2nd World War :

Invited to honour with a bunch of flowers the graves of soldiers killed during the Wars which tragically Divided Europe for a Century, and mainly those who sacrificed their lives for Strasbourg's Liberation from Nazism, thousands of simple People saw for the first time a large open space with graves of victimes spreading from French to German, but also African, Russian, Ukranian, Polish, British, Irish, North American/Canadian, Australian, and other origins, (even a Greek-like name, meaning "Black Horse", was found among those killed near Germany's "Black Forest" mountain). Christians, Muslims (mainly from French-speaking Southern Mediterannean countries, as Marocco, Algeria, etc), Jewish, or free-thinkers, etc., stood side by side.

This went well beyond Helmut Kohl, ex-German reUnification Historic Chancellor's call, reiterated earlier in 2004 at Strasbourg, about having - "NO More Graveyards in Europe !" The local military cemetery was initially constructed by Germans, at the aftermath of 1872 war, but French gathered together all 1st and 2nd World War victims, both soldiers and resistants or simple civilians, including those who died later from wounds, from 1917 to 1960, and the whole area was renovated around 2000, said to SeNas its guardian, M. Belz.

 

Strasbourg's Synagogue and Protestant St Pierre le jeune Church added previous or following events.

SeNas was surprised to witness the fact that, throughout a large area of thousands of graves, not only no one had been left without being honored with at least a bunch of flowers, but, what is more striking, Strasbourg's People had massively chosen to concentrate and multiply bunches of flowers at those victims which had not only been killed, but also deprived of the elementary human right to their Name : The 'Unknown Soldiers", "Soldat(s) Inconnu(s)", or 'Unbenkamte", etc, clearly gathered the most numerous Popular support, everywhere ! It all looked as if simple People understood well the meaning of World-famous writer Well's novel warning about a worse "Hell" : "1984", where a Nazi-like Oppressive and manipulating, undemocratic regime, threatens its political opponents not only to kill them, but also to "distord or <<erase>> their memories from History"..

However, most people don't recall that even the Name of Strasbourg's Liberator, General Leclerc, was, in fact, only a .. pseudo : He had to hide his real name during action, "in order to protect his Family !" "Leclerc was austere and hard, but Human !", reminded Veteran Briallet, who worked with him, before a deadly plane incident, when he had become famous, later-on, after 2WW's end, at 1947.

General Leclerc at Strasbourg's central square, November 1944, (at the same place where PM Raffarin spoke, precisely 60 Years later, on November 2004).

- We are here to pay tribute "to those who sacrificed themselves to refuse Oppression and Arbitrariness : Not for vengeance or for taking revanche, but to respect that absolute Condition" of sanctity of Human Dignity, "against Nazi negation of Human values". Because their example can help "build the Collective Consciousness of Citizens today, for the security and development of Europe", stressed earlier the new Military Governor of Strasbourg, general Claude Dorange.

Dorange, (who bears a symbolic responsibility as Leclerc's successor in Strasbourg), pointed at Army's other "exalting tasks" at present, such as Reconstruction, Peace-keeping or restoring, Humanitarian operations, etc. throughout the World, but "always with a clear mandate by UNO and EU". Meanwhile, "as an ex-expert in Buildings, I'm glad to live and work in Strasbourg city, where an astonishing European Cultural Heritage in various Monuments has been gathered together", Governor Dorange said to SeNas.

Since EURO-CORPS' precursor, the 1989 Franco-German brigade, the Head-Quarters created in Strasbourg was enlarged to more than 5 European countries, opened to liaison-officers from many more, and undertook the responsibility of various operations, from Kosovo (2000) to Afghanistan's ISAF (2004), under NATO auspices, and at FYROM under EU mandate (2003). Important for EU's Rapid Reaction Force plans, it has to prepare the challenge of 2006 NATO's New Reaction Force, while being open for NATO or EU mandates in Peace-keeping or restoring, Humanitarian and/or Reconstruction missions, reminded new Head or EURO-CORPS' Information Office, Colonel Philippe Toussaint, (who has also unforgettable memories from Tambow Camp, South-East of Moscow).

This gave fresh interest to the Historic order entrusted by De Gaule to General Leclerc, shortly before the town was liberated from Nazi occupation army : - "If U.S.A. army heads for Strasbourg, support them. But if you are first, then, go-on and take Strasbourg !"

Leclerc became "first", by intelligently avoiding main roads, blocked by Nazi artillery, at Saverne's crossing point towards Strasbourg. Instead, he succceded to cross Mountains generally considered as "impossible" for any vehicle : He used an unknown path, indicated by a person who used to stroll around a beautiful, unspoiled Nature, ..."by foot and bicycle", 2004 ceremony reminded.

- "We were at War, without time to watch the Landscape, but we managed to cross the Mountains during a heavy rain, bypass the blockade, encircle it and start going straight ahead towards Strasbourg", described to "SeNas" 79 years-old Veteran Yves Martin, who was wounded and hospitalized during Alsace region's battles. - "Time was crucial, and, after all, November 22 was the Anniversary of my Birthday, as well as that of De Gaule and Leclerc's !", Martin added maliciously.

         

(A) Jean-Pierre Raffarin : "urgency for a Popular Europe" : In a symbolic start of making words meet deeds, French PM escaped from his escorters with an unexpected, Leclerc-like sharp tactic move, making a fast walkabout among People gathered at Strasbourg's Cathedral square, where he greeted simple Veterans, an infirm person in his wheelchair (who immediately became a smiling celebrity with many young girls-reporters asking for his feelings), families with young children, and even surprised SeNas ..

(B) Yves Martin, a 2ndWW veteran, wounded during battles for Strasbourg's Liberation, (the old man with the red hat), seems to think about his own Anniversary, one Day before the Historic event : - "November 22, by an incredible coincidence, is not only mine, but also De Gaule's and even Leclerc's birthdate !", Martin said to SENAS.

` - "They joined a Struggle not for their own sake, but in order to save other People : A struggle to liberate not only the national soil, but also Europe, from a Dictatorship which trumped Human Rights underfoot", "aggressing any political dissidents, jewish and other people", said Strasbourg's Academic Rector, Gerald Chaix.

"Europe cannot be built by erasing History, but by overcoming it with a Will for Unity in diversity, and for Common Reconstruction" "It was founded mainly by Franco-German reconciliation, which succeeded to emerge even after 2 World-Wars, since De Gaule - Adenauer" meetings at 1960ies.

Now, "at the Horizon of 2010, the aim of all 25 EU member countries is Europe of Knowledge, to be founded on a Community of Learning, from 1st grade School up to the University. We want to build the Europe of Education, after that of Politics, Economy and Defense", pointed out Chaix, (speaking the same day that Paris anounced far-reaching Educative Reforms, including a boost to learn English, but also German, a.o. languages, by all students).

This was partly highlighted at the Inauguration of Exhibition - "From Liberation of Strasbourg to European Citizenship" :  A well-documented and impressive work to revive Memories of Resistants, simple People, refugees, soldiers or politicians from all sides, outstanding events and collective atmosphere during Nazi Occupation until 1944/5 Liberation, which involved passioned students, (with a Universal message that meant much also to an enthousiastic youngster whose family originated from Vietnam !). Logically, it was hosted at down-town Lyceum "Rene Cassin", named after the historic 1st President of European Court of Human Rights.

But it also reminded the tragic fate of Young soldier Albert Zimmer, an 18-years old refugee from Strasbourg, who rushed to be the first to return at his beloved Rhine River, but was killed in his Tank, which remains as a Monument at the entrance of a School. - "It was a fierce battle !", stressed the letter of a young boy aged 12 who witnessed the events, read at a Ceremony to pay tribute to all those who were killed then, only a few meters away from what became, today, a brand-new "Garden of two shores", where Families and Children love to stroll around a splendid, peaceful Nature.

- "Rhine Bridge had been destroyed by retreating Nazis, and People had, for a long time, to use a provisional makeshift path crossing over barges", said an old couple to SeNas. But, nowadays, Central European Rhine Rhiver, changed "from a dividing line, to become a New Link", stressed French President Jacques Chirac in the recent Franco-German Summit with Chancelor Gerhard Schroeder in Strasbourg (See SeNas of 2 October 2004), reminded PM Raffarin. This becomes even more true since 2001, when Rhine started to be linked also to Danube..

Raffarin's call for Europe's Future at Strasbourg Liberation's 60th Anniversary, November 2004, looked Timely :

While European Union, only recently Enlarged to 25 member countries, has already to tackle issues crucial for its Future, such as ratification of EU Constitution and the question of Turkey, "in 2005 we have to define a coherent European Architecture", with a clear political mandate for Council of Europe's role (46 member-states, including Russia), said earlier in Strasbourg CoE's Chairman-in-office, Polish Foreign Minister W³odimierz Cimozewicz. This will be the main task of CoE's 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government which will take place on May 2005 in Warsow, shortly after 1945 Liberation Anniversary celebrations at Moscow, added Cimozewicz.

Historically, after Strasbourg's liberation, DeGaule had started moving towards Russia, arriving at Moscow on December 1944. But Raffarin, in 2004, did it the other way round : Shortly before Strasbourg Liberation's 60th Anniversary, he welcomed Russian PM Serguei Narychkine in Paris..

Looking even at a larger World-wide horizon, Raffarin raised Global perspectives in Strasbourg after a visit to Mexico, where he was acompagnied by Jean Charest, Premier of Canada's Quebec, for better links to both Latin and Northern America.

 

Going "Global" : French PM Raffarin viewing an Aztec Monument in Mexico, 1 Day before Strasbourg's Cathedral, but after a threefold meeting between Premiers of Mexico, France and Canada's Quebec