It is nearly 80 years since the Liberation of Monaco by Allied troops on 3rd September 1944, and the Principality is set to commemorate this landmark moment in its history with the full honours, pageantry and ceremony befitting such a momentous occasion.
Monaco was occupied by Axis powers between 1942. Initially controlled by Italian forces, German troops later took over the Principality following Italy’s surrender in September 1943.
The Germans retreated almost a year to the day after they had entered Monaco, departing under the threat of the incoming Allied forces who had landed in the south of France on 15th August 1944 under the command of United States Army Major General Robert Frederick.
The Liberation of Monaco is thus commemorated each year on 3rd September, and with 2024 representing the 80th anniversary of this major event, Prince Albert II of Monaco has sought to mark the occasion with an extra special ceremony.
See more: Prince Albert II joins Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III at D-Day commemorations
According to a statement by the Monaco Government, “The Sovereign Prince has wished for this anniversary to have special significance this year, as in other affected countries, by particularly highlighting the decisive contribution of the American army.”
As such, a special tribute will be paid to US General Frederick in the form of a ceremony and the issuing of a souvenir stamp.
Prince Albert is expected to make a speech at the ceremony, which will be held in front of the war memorial commemorating 20th century conflicts in the Monaco Cemetery at 5pm on 3rd September, in the presence of servicemen from Monaco, France and the US.
General Frederick’s grandson, Bradford Hicks, has also been personally invited to Monaco to participate in the event.
Read more: Photos: Prince Albert II commemorates 80th anniversary of Normandy’s D-Day landings
At 6pm, after the laying of a wreath at the Conseil National, notably by the commemorative plaque that honours Monegasque Resistance fighter René Borghini and his liaison officer, Esther Poggio, who were executed on 15th August 1944, Prince Albert will inaugurate an exhibition called ‘Monaco Liberated! 3rd September to 28th December 1944’ in the main hall of the Ministry of State.
The exhibition has been collectively organised by the Mission for the Prefiguration of the National Archives, the Archives of the Princely Palace and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco in collaboration with the Médiathèque de Monaco. It will be open to the public until 31st January 2025.
Throughout the day, the Commemoration Committee will be hosting an array of WWII-related events in the streets of the Principality, such as a military vehicle parade that will depart Avenue Saint-Laurent for the Palais Princier via the Maison de France and Lycée Albert Ier. The timings of the parade are yet to be confirmed.
Monaco’s memories of WWII extend beyond the borders of the Principality, and it has been revealed that the Monegasque State has made financial contributions to the installation of a new bronze statue commemorating the site of the Airborne Task Force’s landing in La Motte in the Var. The state was unveiled on 14th August.
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Photo source: Monaco Communications Department