Obj. ID: 15837
  Memorials  Dachau Memorial at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, 1985

To the main object: Jewish tombstones at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France

Memorial Name

No official name

Who/What is Commemorated?

Inmates and victims of the Dachau Concentration Camp

Description:

 The monument is in section 77 of the cemetery, set up against the cemetery perimeter wall, in an area of other collective monuments.

It is set into a low hillside at the edge of the cemetery. Steps cut into the hillside are an integral part of the memorial and carry commemorative inscriptions. Six granite steps lead to the monument. The rises of three steps are faced with inscribed bronze plaques. The top step is inscribed directly into the stone, and the letters of colored red.

The monument consists of two tall rectangular pillars, the fronts of which are finished with alternating finished and rough stripes. These pillars support a large red granite triangle, with one point hanging down into the space between the pillars. Inscribed on this “badge” is the word “DACHAU.” Beneath the monument are buried ashes from Dachau.

The red triangle represents the badge worn by prisoners. The space between the pillars is intended to represent the Dachau camp gate.

Bronze plaques are set on each side of the steps.  At the top level, beveled to face outwards is a tablet on the left with a quote from Edmond Michelet, who was deported to Dachau. On the right is a low relief in bronze by sculptor Cyrille Troisgros, of two prisoners – one apparently already dead – at a barbed wire fence.

At the lowest level on each side of the steps of wide rectangular bronze plaques with historical information about the Dachau Camp in French and English.

A plaque giving information about the creation of the memorial is on the rear of the monument. 

Inscriptions:

On steps in French:

DACHAU ET SES KOMMANDOS

TOI QUI PASSES

SOUVIENS-TOI DE CEUX QUI ONT COMBATTU POUR LEUR PATRIE

LA LIBERTE ET LA DIGNITE DE L’HOMME

DE CENDRES DE CEUX QUI SONT MORTS DANS CE CAMP

SONT DEPOSEES DANS CE MEMORIAL

Translation: Dachau and its kommandos / you who pass by / remember those who fought for their homeland / freedom and human dignity / ashes of those who died in this camp / are deposited in this memorial

On plaque on upper left in French:

NOUS AVONS SONDÉ

 DES ABÎMES

 EN NOUS-MÊMES ET

CHEZ LES AUTRES

 EDMOND MICHELET. [Deported to Dachau]

Translation: We have plumbed the depths within ourselves and in others (Edmond Michelet). [Deported to Dachau]

Plaque on the lower left in French:

DACHAU

Est le liou ou fut construit on Allemagne, prés do Munich, lo 22 mars 1933, 1e premier des camps de concentration crees en Εurope par le parti National-Socialiste dès sa priso dan pouvoir. Ce camp devait emprisonner d'abord des citoyens allemands opposés au régime hitlérion. Pais, plus tard y furent déportés Jes résistants et des victimes de l’oppression nazie, arrétés dans les pays annexés ou occupés par l’ Allemagne. Plus de 200.000 detenus, dont plus de 12.000 arrétés on France, y subirent les traitements les plus inhumains Dans ce camp, durant les douze années de son fonctionnement,

plusieurs dizaines de mililers de prisonniers sont morts de faim, d’epuisement, de sévices ou par execution. Nous les survivants, nous avons érigé ce monument dons sa sobriété pour témoigner de la Foi, du Courage

 ce l’Esperance qui n'ont cesse de nous animer et de nous soutenir tout au long de notre épreuve.

 Plaque on the lower right in English:

DACHAU

Is the site near Munich in Germany where the first European camp was built by the Nationalist Socialist Party after they had seized power. It was completed on March 22, 1933. Originally, this camp was intended
to imprison those German citizens opposed to Hitler's regime Later, Resistance fighters and victims of
Nazi oppression arrested in those countries annexed and occupied by Germany Were deported there.
More than 200 000 internees, out of whom 12.000 were arrested in France, suffered from the most
inhuman treatment.
In this camp, during the twelve years of its operation, several tens of thousands of prisoners died from
Starvation, exhaustion, cruelty or were executed. We the survivors, have erected this simple monument, as
a witness in the Faith, Courage and Hope that have ceaselessly driven and supported us throughout our ordeal.

 On a plaque on rear of monument [no photo]:

1er juin 1985. Ce monument, érigé par l’amicale des anciens de Dachau, à la mémoire des déportés du camp de concentration de Dachau et de ses Kommandos, a été inauguré par Jean Laurain secrétaire d’état auprès du ministère de la Défense, chargé des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre, Jacques Chirac, maire de Paris, et le colonel Charles Arnoud, président de l’Amicale.

Cette réalisation qui respecte la symbolique et les éléments essentiels du projet initial œuvre de Jacques Songy, vice-président de l’Amicale a été conduite par une commission d’anciens présidée par Edmond Falkuss assisté de Pierre Bellier, Daniel Binet, Jean Dannenmüller, Raymond Le Doriel, Marcel Miquet, Marcel Parrot, Pierre Schillio, L. Eugène Sirvent et Gilbert Wolf.

Conseiller technique Claude Martinez.

Translation: To the dead of Dachau. Ashes from the crematorium. (On a plaque) June 1, 1985. This monument, erected by the Dachau Veterans' Association, in memory of the deportees of the Dachau concentration camp and its Kommandos, was inaugurated by Jean Laurain, Secretary of State to the Ministry of Defense, responsible for veterans and war victims, Jacques Chirac, Mayor of Paris, and Colonel Charles Arnoud, President of the Association. // This achievement, which respects the symbolism and essential elements of the initial project by Jacques Songy, Vice-President of the Association, was led by a commission of veterans chaired by Edmond Falkuss, assisted by Pierre Bellier, Daniel Binet, Jean Dannenmüller, Raymond Le Doriel, Marcel Miquet, Marcel Parrot, Pierre Schillio, L. Eugène Sirvent and Gilbert Wolf. / Technical advisor Claude Martinez.

Commissioned by