We are a dedicated team driven by the desire to pay tribute to these victims and to raise awareness among current and future generations about the importance and promotion of peace in a context marked by upheavals and conflicts in various regions of the world. The tragedies of the past, such as those commemorated by the Tulle Martyrs Committee, remind us of the disastrous consequences of extremist ideologies and hatred. By keeping the memory of these events alive and honoring the victims, we are committed to not repeating the mistakes of the past.
“The truth of tomorrow is nourished by the error of yesterday.” – Antoine de Saint Exupéry
The Association of the Tulle Martyrs Committee
Its creation
On June 9, 1944, the town of Tulle fell victim to the murderous rampage of the SS troops from the “Das Reich” division, under the command of General Heinz Bernhard Lammerding. They took hundreds of men hostage and gathered them in the Manufacture. After hours of absurd and arbitrary selection, 99 innocent men were hanged from the town’s balconies in a climate of terror, witnessed by the population. 149 men were deported, of whom 101 never returned from the concentration camps.
In the following months, the families of the martyrs decided to form a Committee. Thus, on June 30, 1945, statutes were filed, formalizing the creation of the “Tulle Martyrs Committee” Association, chaired by founder Léon Bossavy and secretary Antoine Soulier, both of whom had lost their sons in this tragedy.
In the years following the liberation, a collective mobilization initiated by the Martyrs Committee took shape to create a more dignified memorial site at the “Cueille” necropolis, which would become the “Haut Lieu de Cueille” (High Place of Cueille). To achieve this, a large subscription was opened, and the government provided financial support equal to almost half of the project’s cost. The remainder was funded by subscriptions from hundreds of municipalities, businesses, and individuals. Since then, on June 9th of each year, under the joint involvement of the Martyrs Committee and the city of Tulle, a memorial march of families has been established. They gather at the Gare square, and from 5 p.m., they proceed in procession to the Haut Lieu de Cueille. Successive presidents of the Martyrs Committee since its inception include Léon Bossavy, Antoine Soulier, Yvette Mazeau, and Michel Drelon. The current President is Roland Gonieau (grandson of Léon Bossavy).
The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is vested with the broadest powers to administer and manage the association, within the limits of its purpose and in compliance with the powers assigned and defined in the statutes. It consists of 9 to 12 members elected for 3 years by the General Assembly. Members are eligible for reelection. The Board of Directors selects from among its members an executive committee composed of:
The executive committee is responsible for executing the decisions made and defined by the Board of Directors.
The Cultural Ideas Promotion Group (G.P.I.C):
Comprised of members selected for their expertise, work, and influence in areas related to the missions and programs of the CDM. They are appointed by the Board of Directors. As members of the association, they have the right to vote at General Assemblies.
Jean-Marie CHAUMEIL, Gilles CHAVANT, Pascal DAUBERNARD, Danièle DELORD, Fabien DEVILLIERS, Michel DRELON, Nicolas GINER, Roland GONIEAU, Yves JUIN, Xavier KOMPA, Hélène LAPORTE-JEANOT, Delphine GONIEAU LAVERNE, Paloma LEON, Alain PEUCH, Manée TEYSSANDIER, Jean-Michel VALADE
Members and the General Assembly
The General Assembly brings together all the subscribing members of the association. It consists of three types of members:
Membership in the Association
Any individual or legal entity wishing to join our association must submit a written request to the following address: Tulle Martyrs Committee 17 Boulevard Foch 19000 Tulle or by email to: contact@comite-des-martyrs-de-tulle.fr
The presented candidacy will be subject to approval by the Executive Committee, which will make a decision within 30 days.
The missions of the Tulle Martyrs Committee
Pedagogy and communication
Since the end of 2022, our Association, thanks to a dedicated team including Gilles Chavant, Danièle Delord, Roland Gonieau, and Philippe Armand (who assisted in launching the conferences), has conducted over thirty presentations and conferences in numerous middle schools and municipalities in Corrèze and other departments such as Lot, Creuse, Hérault, as well as Monaco in December 2022.
This pedagogical approach, developed by the Martyrs Committee since October 2022, ensures the appropriate and timely transition from the time of mourning to the era of history.
This history, which is also that of our martyrs, tirelessly conveyed by memory, not only pays permanent tribute to them but also serves as a warning to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
This virtuous process of educational communication confirms our identity and strengthens the impact and legitimacy of our Committee.