Septembre 1944 : Abbeville libre !

From May 20 1940 onwards, Abbeville lived under German occupation, in perpetual fear of further loss of life and property. A glimmer of hope finally appeared in the spring of 1944. At dawn on June 6, Allied warships appeared off the Normandy coast. At the end of August, the Allied advance became clearer. The 1st Polish Armored Division, which had played a decisive role in closing the Falaise-Chambois pocket, then set about liberating northern France. On Sunday September 3, Allied infantrymen and the first tanks commanded by General Maczek entered our town. With the help of Resistance fighters, they succeeded in liberating Abbeville, at the cost of bitter fighting. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Abbeville, documents and photographs from the Abbeville Municipal Archives and the Departmental Archives will be on display, alongside items from private collections (military equipment and uniforms), to pay fitting tribute to our liberators.

SHARE YOUR INFORMATION ON THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Do you have photographs, documents or personal accounts? Take part in writing, or even rewriting, the history of your town. Because collective memory is built on the memories of each individual, the Municipal Archives can receive your private archives. They can be donated or temporarily deposited for digitization. Don?t hesitate to contact us, we are at your service all year round.