Resistance – In Montpellier, graffiti from 1942 discovered on the Arceaux aqueduct have been authenticated as a message from the Combat network, revealing a previously unknown historical testimony of World War II.
In Montpellier, inscriptions that have been visible for decades on the Arceaux aqueduct have just been formally attributed to the French internal resistance. According to information reported by Midi Libre, these graffiti, discovered a few months ago, long perceived as simple tags, actually correspond to a message from the Combat network dating back to 1942.
The investigation was conducted by two lawyers from the Montpellier bar, Isabelle Durand and Cédric Amourette. Alerted by a colleague mentioning a family memory related to these inscriptions, they conducted thorough research with the support of local institutions, including the Resistance museum and the departmental archives of Hérault.
“Combat punishes traitors”
Photographic analysis confirmed the presence of the slogan “Combat punishes traitors”, painted high on a pillar of the aqueduct. This identification was corroborated by period leaflets found in archives, as well as by writings of the resistant Henri Frenay, who explicitly mentioned a campaign of graffiti in several cities in the free zone, including Montpellier.
Visible due to technical constraints at the time, these markings now constitute a rare testimony to the action of the Combat network. The discoverers now call for their protection and integration into the local memorial trail, in order to valorize this unknown historical heritage. Two other inscriptions, including (…)
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