The town of Annemasse is preserving and promoting its memorial heritage by transforming the former Pax prison, a highly symbolic place in the town's Resistance and history, into a Maison des Mémoires.
The Pax prison, a highly symbolic Resistance site
At the end of December 1942, Italian soldiers occupied Annemasse. They requisitioned a hosiery factory at 21, avenue de la gare and used the cellar to lock up political opponents. But in September 1943, the Italians left and German occupying troops took their place. The SS Polizei Regimenter Tod moved into the Hôtel Pax, and the hosiery factory opposite was converted into a prison. It became the department's main prison during the Second World War, holding hundreds of inmates. The prison register lists the names of 736 people, but not all of them would have been registered. Among them were resistance fighters and Jews, including 39 children. Some prisoners were murdered, others released, but most were transferred to Montluc prison, before being deported to concentration and extermination camps.
This was the fate of Mila Racine, a young Resistance fighter who saved many Jewish children by smuggling them across the Swiss border. Arrested on October 22, 1943, she was incarcerated in the Pax prison, then deported to the Mauthausen camp, where she died under Allied bombardment, just a few days before the camps were liberated.
After Mila Racine's arrest, Marianne Cohn took over. This young Resistance fighter in turn rescued a number of Jewish children, but was arrested on June 1 with a group of others. The mayor, Jean Deffaugt, managed to free the younger children and offered to exfiltrate Marianne. She refused, fearing reprisals against the children. Tortured, she did not speak and was murdered at the Ville-la-Grand mass grave on July 8, 1944, along with five other prisoners.
From the Pax prison to the Maison des Mémoires, a place of collective memory
The symbolic transformation of the former Pax prison into the Maison des Mémoires (House of Memories) brings new life to a place steeped in history, witness to the region's darkest hours during the Second World War and to the exploits of the Resistance. This revamped facility will help to bring together and pass on Annemasse's heritage.
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A modern, interactive memory trail:
The Maison des Mémoires offers a 120 m² interpretation center entirely redesigned to provide an immersive and educational experience. The exterior façade, the only original vestige of the building, has been subtly restored to its original appearance, including the reconstruction of the first-floor balcony. An adapted museography and a modern, interactive scenography make the history of the site during the Second World War accessible.
Visiting areas include :
A chronological tour of the site's history
Adapted interactive and participatory features
Projection areas and audiovisual displays
An educational room for school groups (from CM2 to 2nd grade).
At the end of December 1942, Italian soldiers occupied Annemasse. They requisitioned a hosiery factory at 21, avenue de la gare and used the cellar to lock up political opponents. But in September 1943, the Italians left and German occupying troops took their place. The SS Polizei Regimenter Tod moved into the Hôtel Pax, and the hosiery factory opposite was converted into a prison. It became the department's main prison during the Second World War, holding hundreds of inmates. The prison register lists the names of 736 people, but not all of them would have been registered. Among them were resistance fighters and Jews, including 39 children. Some prisoners were murdered, others released, but most were transferred to Montluc prison, before being deported to concentration and extermination camps.
This was the fate of Mila Racine, a young Resistance fighter who saved many Jewish children by smuggling them across the Swiss border. Arrested on October 22, 1943, she was incarcerated in the Pax prison, then deported to the Mauthausen camp, where she died under Allied bombardment, just a few days before the camps were liberated.
After Mila Racine's arrest, Marianne Cohn took over. This young Resistance fighter in turn rescued a number of Jewish children, but was arrested on June 1 with a group of others. The mayor, Jean Deffaugt, managed to free the younger children and offered to exfiltrate Marianne. She refused, fearing reprisals against the children. Tortured, she did not speak and was murdered at the Ville-la-Grand mass grave on July 8, 1944, along with five other prisoners.
From the Pax prison to the Maison des Mémoires, a place of collective memory
The symbolic transformation of the former Pax prison into the Maison des Mémoires (House of Memories) brings new life to a place steeped in history, witness to the region's darkest hours during the Second World War and to the exploits of the Resistance. This revamped facility will help to bring together and pass on Annemasse's heritage.
------------
A modern, interactive memory trail:
The Maison des Mémoires offers a 120 m² interpretation center entirely redesigned to provide an immersive and educational experience. The exterior façade, the only original vestige of the building, has been subtly restored to its original appearance, including the reconstruction of the first-floor balcony. An adapted museography and a modern, interactive scenography make the history of the site during the Second World War accessible.
Visiting areas include :
A chronological tour of the site's history
Adapted interactive and participatory features
Projection areas and audiovisual displays
An educational room for school groups (from CM2 to 2nd grade).
