Vachères-en-Quint

Commemorative stone in memory of a German anti-fascist known as Rudolf, who was killed here on July 27, 1944. And to two other resistance fighters who died in the events that followed: Paul Brozille and Louis Vialet.

At the end of July 1944, a German offensive was launched against the Vercors. On July 21, an airborne unit was dropped near the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors. At the same time, ground troops encircled and invested the Vercors. The Germans began to clear the massif, heading for Saint-Martin-en-Vercors and Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors, where the main command posts of the maquis were located.

On July 27, at 7:00 a.m., a German company attacked the Tourettes bridge, in the commune of Saint-Andéol. The path was guarded by the Resistance fighters of the Perrin company. After several hours of fighting, they finally retreated after blowing up the bridge. A german antifascit, known as Rudolf, remained behind to cover the Perrin company retreat. After he ran out of ammo, he was taken prisonner and executed.

The German company then bypassed the bridge and headed toward the Marignac pass, which was the only way left to reach the Quint valley through the mountains. This pass was guarded by a detachment of the Pons company, which took up residence in the Bertrand farm. At daybreak, German troops stopped at the Marignac pass. The Pons company, surprised by the Germans, retreated on the orders of its commander, second lieutenant Marion. Two resistance fighters, Louis Viallet and Paul Brozille, who had taken refuge in a stable away from the farm, were captured by the Germans and executed. The Bertrand farm was burned down for having hosted Resistance fighters, however Gaston Bertrand was safely released.

Inscription: "Here fell gloriously on July 27, 1944 a German anti-fascist known as Rudolf. With his comrades of the Maquis (Perrin), he fought to liberate France and defeat Nazism. Two French patriots fell in this same fight: BROZILLE Paul, 31, and VIALET Louis, 18, from Portes-les-Valence."

To learn more, see the testimony of Albert Fié, Resistance fighter of the Pons company who was fighting in the Marignac sector at the time of the events. http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media1381-Plaque-apposA

Sources :

- Le Maitron, Notice Paul Brozille par Jean-Louis Ponnavoy. https://maitron.fr/spip.php?article182390

- Le Maitron, Notice Louis Viallet par Robert Serre. https://maitron.fr/spip.php?article184350

- Le Maitron, Notice Rudolph (sans nom) par robert Serre. https://maitron.fr/spip.php?article184153

- KilRoyTrip, Memoriaux - Rudolf Macquis Perrin. https://www.kilroytrip.fr/memoriaux/rudolf-maquis-perrin

- Musée de la résistance en ligne, La ferme Bertrand à Marignac. http://museedelaresistanceenligne.org/media1381-Plaque-apposA