Raymond Anne

Raymond Anne was born on 17 December 1922 in Villers-Bocage, Calvados. During World War II (1939–45) he became "Sergeant Filochard" in the Forces françaises de l'intérieur (FFI) in the French Resistance.[1] Vassieux-en-Vercors, on the Vercors Massif of the Alps, was a center of the resistance of the Maquis du Vercors. Hundreds of "Montagnards" converged there after news was received of the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. The Germans bombed and destroyed the village from 14–21 July 1944, then sent in troops. About 840 French people died and 150 German troops.[2] Raymond Anne was killed by the enemy at Vassieux on 21 July 1944.[1]

Vercors soon became a symbol of national importance, and on 4 August 1945 the Croix de la Libération was given to the commune of Vassieux.[3] Raymond Anne is entombed at the Mémorial de la France combattante at Mont-Valérien, where he represents the FFI.[1] He is buried in the 3rd crypt on the left.[4] At the Nécropole de la Résistance in Vassieux-en-Vercors there is a room of memories which has a plaque recording that Raymond Anne rests in the crypt at Mont-Valérien as representative of all the maquis of France.[5] He was posthumously awarded the Croix de guerre 1939–45 with star and the Médaille de la résistance.