Unveiled during Monaco’s commemorations of its liberation by the Allied forces in 1944, the new ‘Monaco Libéré ! 3 septembre – 28 décembre 1944’ exhibit at the Ministry of State shares the untold stories of the Principality’s wartime struggles and its restoration as a state free from occupation.
On Tuesday 3rd September, Prince Albert II of Monaco paid homage to the men and women who liberated the Principality from German occupation some 80 years earlier.
Having delivered a moving speech in front of detachments from the French and US armies at the Monaco Cemetery, the Prince moved on to the Ministry of State on the Place de la Visitation to inaugurate a fascinating new exhibition that explores the crucial months before and after the Liberation of Monaco in 1944.
Joined at the ceremony by numerous distinguished guests, including the new Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, the Prince formally opened the exhibition before enjoying a guided tour of its displays with his entourage.
The exhibition’s narrative begins with the Allied landings in Provence on 15th August 1944 and continues until the dissolution of Monaco’s Liberation Committee on 28th December later that year. This period marked the end of German occupation and the beginning of the restoration of Monaco as a free state.
See more: In pictures: Remembering the WWII Liberation of Monaco
One of the exhibition’s central themes is the role played by the 1st Airborne Task Force, which was commanded by General Robert T. Frederick. It was these American troops who entered Monaco on 3rd September 1944, effectively liberating the Principality from German control.
Furthermore, the exhibition explores the strategic importance of Monaco in the broader Allied operations in southern France and the significant contribution of the US forces in liberating the region.
The exhibition also delves into the hardships faced by Monaco’s civilian population during the war.
“We also want to highlight that before the liberation, the population of Monaco had a complicated time without electricity, without gas, and we wanted to portray these struggles through rare documents and footage,” Stéphane Lamotte, a teacher at the Lycée Albert I and a part of the team who curated the exhibition, told Monaco Life at the grand unveiling.
In addition to the military and social history, the exhibition considers the immediate post-liberation period, marked by attempts at insurrection, the risk of annexation and the crucial intervention of French forces, which helped to stabilise the local situation.
A unique aspect of the exhibition is its focus on local voices and experiences. Testimonies from figures such as Dr. Jean Drouhard, a surgeon at Monaco’s hospital during the war, and Jean Deflassieux, a young Resistance fighter and later a prominent banker, provide personal perspectives on the historical events.
Organised collaboratively by the Mission for the Prefiguration of National Archives, which is headed up by Director Michaël Bloche, the Palace Archives under the direction of Thomas Fouilleron, and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco, guided by Vincent Vatrican, the exhibition stands out for the richness and diversity of its source material. Stéphane Lamotte, a senior teacher at the Lycée Albert I, along with Jean-Charles Curau of the Municipal Media Library and the team at the Central Archive and Administrative Documentation Service have also played crucial roles in its creation.
‘Monaco Libéré ! 3 septembre – 28 décembre 1944’ will be open to the public until 31st January 2025.
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Prince Albert II takes leading role at 80th anniversary commemorations of Monaco’s 1944 Liberation
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Main photo by Monaco Life