They are the guarantors of the memory of the sacrifice of veterans. Committee members Noyon-Guiscard of French memory Unveil at the beginning of 2025 a project of a crazy ambition for a simple association: to create a Memorial of the Resistance at Crisolles.
They are called Calixte Madej, secretary, Emmanuel Rochas, treasurer, Thierry Hardier, vice-president and Henri Germain, president. Men passionate about history and eager to perpetuate the memory of those who shed blood and tears for the country.
In the big Historyan episode in particular has concentrated their efforts over the past three years: that of the maquis of uses. It is one of the dark and heroic episodes of the Second World War and the Occupation in Noyonnais.
On June 23, 1944, the attack on the maquis of uses, then the roundup
It is June 23, 1944 in Guiscard wood. A place where the maquis meets, that is to say these resistance fighters who oppose the Nazi occupants. “Resistance was not that in the southern zone, it was also in the occupied zone and especially in the Oise,” begins Calixte Madej. Those who continue to discover it every day on secret operations, and sometimes discover new names of resistance fighters who have remained discreet after the war (“we will never know everything”), on the other hand, have a fairly precise vision of what he’s passed through the wood of Crisolles north of Noyon over 80 years ago.
To prepare for the progress of allied troops after the landing, almost everywhere in the country, of clandestine cells – maquis – are organized, to prepare the ground, sabotage, undermine the German advantage. In the Noyonnais, the maquis is organized in the wood of uses which borders Crisolles, and particularly in a hunting chalet. The Germans nourish doubts about what is going on in the heart of the forest. On June 23, they launched the attack. More than valiant, the resistance fighters repel them. Two men, Gaston Devulder and Maurice Moreau are killed.
The Gestapo decides to avenge the affront, and to stifle the movement. The mayor of Crisolles Marcel Poulin, suspected of helping resistance (it was true) is arrested. With more or less discernment, men are won over the entire territory, especially in Salency. Their fortune will be diverse: first interned at the Royallieu de Compiègne camp some will escape, others will be deported to Neu-Stassfut or Buchenwald. Some will die there. Others will be released.
Some names will have become famous in the Noyonnais: Michel Depierre, Georges Roos and of course Max Brézillon.
Today a monument commemorates these feats of arms well, in the middle of this forest. “A very landlocked place where the memory of these resistance fighters is commemorated once a year,” notes Thierry Hardier. “It is increasingly complicated to access this monument,” said Calixte Madej, the cohorts of veterans are no longer, more than early youth. “We are afraid that this story and these men fall into oblivion,” says Henri Germain.
“Registering in a memorial circuit”
The Noyon-Guiscard committee therefore sought a way to light up this maquis again. Two possibilities were offered to them: either “reply this monument along the road”, or “imagine and create a new place”, says Emmanel Rochas. And even better “register it in a memorial circuit in Compiègne in Noyonnais, from the Royallieu camp to Crisolles and then continuing to Tergnier (Aisne)”. It was this second option that was retained.
They thus imagined a whole new place, which will be responsible for symbolism. Located along the Maison des Associations, on a municipal land, it will be made up of a stroll leading to the new monument. Monument itself made of brick-the material of the dynamity hunting chalet after the attack of 44-and on which will be installed six high reliefs representing the symbols of resistance, like the Cross of Lorraine. The flora that will decorate this new space will not be left at random either: for example we will find roses there, with their thorns representing the barbed wire of war. A “garden of interpretation”, they say.
A hundred students involved
“We have worked with schools, whether for research, for the creation of symbols, at all levels,” report the members of the Noyon-Guiscard committee. Coherent when working on the transmission of memory. A ceramist sculptor will be responsible for producing these symbols arranged in six thematic stations.
A place that will commemorate known men and stories, but will also try to “give coherence to a myriad of stories” discovered over the research, the memorial having to rely on a website.
A project at 100,000 euros
Very concretely, this project of an estimated cost of 100,000 euros will be subsidized at 30 % by the Regional Council, and 13 % by the State within the framework of the “Mission Liberation” program launched for the 80ᵉ anniversary. A request was also made to the Departmental Council. The French memory will of course participate, as well as the UMRAC (Union of Reformed mutilated and veterans).
The mayors of the community of communes have also been called upon, failing the Noyonnais country which currently lives some budgetary turpitudes. These mayors will assist for those who wish to projection-conference-presentation this Thursday, February 6 at the Paradisio cinema (see below).
The calendar should see the looping of funding at the end of April for the start of work in May-June and, we hope, an inauguration in the summer. In time to commemorate and “remember otherwise”, on June 23 date of the attack of the maquis? We wish them.
Projection-debate evening Thursday February 6 in Paradisio
Thursday, February 6, in partnership with the Cinéma Paradisio de Noyon, the French memory will present its Mémorial de Crisolles project. The presentation of the French Souvenir will be followed by the screening of the film Le Gars des Callouins-the epic of Désiré le Fauconnier, a short film by Olivier Fély-Biolet, in the presence of its director. The evening will end with a time of exchange and debates entitled “the memory of resistance and deportation today, issues, means and perspectives”.
Memorial evening, 80 years of the Liberation, presentation of the resistance memorial project, followed by a projection and a debate. Thursday, February 6 at the Paradisio cinema at 8 p.m. Entrance: 5 euros.
