ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy will on Sunday inaugurate a memorial park in the southwestern French town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue in tribute to
soldiers from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina who initiated a revolt against the Nazis in that town in 1943, the Croatian Embassy in Paris stated on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy will on Sunday inaugurate a
memorial park in the southwestern French town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue in
tribute to soldiers from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina who initiated a revolt
against the Nazis in that town in 1943, the Croatian Embassy in Paris stated on
Tuesday. On 17 September 1943, in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, members
of the 13th pioneering battalion of the 13th SS division of the German army
led a mutiny against the Nazis and managed to control the town for several
hours. The anti-Fascist character of the mutiny of the soldiers, most of whom
declared themselves as Croats of the Muslim faith, was unequivocal, and is
treated as such in the history of the French Resistance Movement.
The French town, which has a street named "Avenue des Croates",
describes the mutiny as the Mutiny of Croats in its history.
The monuments in the park will be inaugurated in tribute to young
soldiers from Croatia and Bosnia who gave their lives for the freedom of Europe
and France, the embassy said.