Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors

Commemorative plaque on the front of a house, in homage to André Salliquet.

André Salliquet was born on July 23, 1927 in Villard-de-Lans, of Marius Joseph Salliquet and Germaine Marie Louise Jessarand. On July 21, 1944, the evening before the Germans arrived in the village, André left the house after the curfew established by the occupying troops. He was caught by the Germans after trying to run away, tortured and shot on the village square in Autrans.

In a deposition on November 25, 1944, his father confirmed the facts and stated that his son "had gone out to go to the mountains" to look after the cattle. On December 12, 1944, the Prefect of Isère signed a request for a designation as "gave his life for France", in the belief that André Salliquet's death was brought about by an act of war. He confirmed he request on February 23, 1945 after receiving an "official certificate of the individual's membership in the FFI (French Interior Forces)". Colonel Bonne, temporarily commander of the Grenoble subdivision, certified on March 11, 1945, that André Salliquet was a member of the FFI (French Interior Forces) with the rank of second lieutenant. The designation was finalized on May 28, 1945.

On October 18, 1957, Eugène Chavant, civilian head of Vercors, and president at the time of the Pioneers and Volunteer Fighters of Vercors Friendly Association, certified that André Salliquet had "rendered great services to the Vercors organization, which he joined at the beginning of 1944." He also stated that Salliquet had been trapped by the Germans as he was going to join his comrades of the maquis. The certification was based on a letter of September 30, 1957, that Henri Barnier, mayor of Autrans had sent him.

On December 23, 1962, André Salliquet was designated as a political prisoner. The title is different from that of resistance prisoner and he is not listed as a resistant in the military administration.

Source: Musée de la résistance en ligne