80 years of the battles of the Auzon bridge commemorated

Veterans and elected officials present for the commemoration at the Auzon bridge. Midi Libre – F. A.

13 resistance fighters were killed during the fighting between August 23 and 25, 1944. At the Auzon bridge, at the foot of the cliff where they were posted, their names are engraved on a stele.

They were called by their nom de guerre Bougre, Camaradet, Var, Aragon, Le Lorrain or Brun. On the stele that marks the location where they were killed, 13 names of resistance fighters from the 33rd and 34th companies of the Corps Francs de la Libération (CFL) are inscribed. The youngest was 18 years old.

Today, the cliff of the Pont d'Auzon is dedicated to climbing, but 80 years ago the site was the scene of violent fighting between the resistance fighters and the routed German troops. This Monday morning, a commemoration brought together local elected officials and veterans to remember the sacrifice of the resistance fighters, most of whom were from Bessèges.

On August 23, 1944, around thirty men were posted at the Pont d'Auzon to block access to the Lussan and Rivières roads. A German column of nearly three hundred men fell into the ambush, but the soldiers reacted and counterattacked. After twenty minutes of fighting, the resistance fighters break up and disperse.

The next day, a more substantial force is put in place. But part of the troops must go to Méjannes-lès-Alès to support another attack. It is therefore with reduced numbers that new, more deadly fighting begins. The resistance fighters are in a difficult position. Reinforcements are sent from Salindres, but arrive too late. A dozen bodies will be found.

The day's ceremony allowed for a final tribute to the fighters during the laying of a wreath and the minute of silence "to not forget".