Monaco to mark 82nd anniversary of its liberation
Monaco will commemorate the 82nd anniversary of its liberation from German occupation on Thursday 3 September, with a series of ceremonies paying tribute to Allied forces, Resistance fighters and those who lost their lives during the Second World War.
Members of the Association MonacoUSA will take part in the commemorations alongside Monegasque, French and Italian participants, with a parade of historic military vehicles through the Principality.
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MonacoUSA members will dress in authentic 1944 US military uniforms and travel in restored Second World War jeeps and other vehicles, following a route from Avenue Saint-Laurent to the Place du Palais.
The procession will stop at several symbolic locations, including the Maison de France, the Conseil National and Monaco Town Hall.
Wreaths will be laid along the route in memory of the Allied soldiers who helped liberate Monaco, members of the Resistance and victims of the war.
As part of the commemorations, the American participants will also hand out chocolate bars to residents, recreating a gesture associated with US troops during the liberation of Europe in 1944.
The day will conclude with an official ceremony at Monaco Cemetery, where members of MonacoUSA will lay a wreath at the war memorial.
Tributes will also be paid at the graves of Resistance figures René Borghini and Joseph Lajoux, bringing the Principality’s commemorations of the 82nd anniversary of its liberation to a close.