Important sites of national remembrance and the ONaCVG
The Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration Camp Memorial holds a very special place amongst them. It is located in Alsace and is the only Nazi concentration camp to have been established on French soil. Operating under the authority of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces through the Department of remembrance, culture and archives (DMCA), the site has been managed by the ONaCVG since 2010. It bears witness to the persecution, deportations and violence suffered by tens of thousands of men and women during the Second World War.
The important sites of national remembrance
Montluc Prison National Memorial
📍 Lyon
A former military prison used by the Vichy regime and the Nazi occupiers, the memorial charts the history of repression, internment and resistance during the Second World War, as well as the prison’s diverse histories between 1921 and 1990.
Memorial to the Landing and Liberation of Provence
📍 Toulon
Situated at the summit of Mont Faron, this memorial pays tribute to the combatants and operations that took place during the Provence landings on the 15th of August 1944, which contributed to the liberation of French territory.
Mont-Valérien Memorial
📍 Suresnes
As the main site of executions in French territory occupied by the German army, Mont-Valérien honours the memory of the Resistance fighters and hostages who were shot during the Second World War.
Memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation
📍 Paris
This memorial, which was built to honour the French deportees, invites visitors to reflect on and perpetuate the memory of the victims of the Nazi concentration camp system.
L’Office national des combattants et des victimes de guerre
A mission led by the French State
Through these sites, the ONaCVG pursues a public service mission based on three key principles: preserve, understand and perpetuate.
This mission forms part of a commitment to uphold national memory, pay tribute to the victims and raise public awareness of the fundamental values of freedom, dignity and peace.
Therefore, these important sites of national remembrance are both venues promoting historical knowledge and places for reflection on the present and the future.
Places to share knowledge and learn
Every year, the sites managed by the ONaCVG welcome large numbers of visitors, especially young people and school groups. Through tours, workshops and educational activities, these sites help to convey history and foster critical reasoning.
The teams at these sites are there to help visitors understand historical events and their contemporary implications.
Places of contemplation and remembrance
These important sites of national remembrance are also places of contemplation. They honour the memory of the victims of conflict, deportees, members of the Resistance, and all those who suffered or fought for freedom.
They highlight the importance of remembrance and the need to remain vigilant in the face of the risks of discrimination, hatred and forgotten history.
A collective responsibility
The preservation and perpetuation of these places hinges on shared responsibility between institutions, those involved in preserving historical memory, and the public.
By giving everyone the opportunity to engage with history, these important sites of national remembrance help to foster a collective consciousness and reinforce republican values.