Monument Executed Bondues

Monument Executed Bondues

On the ramparts of Fort Lobau is the monument to the executioner of Bondues. Executions were carried out in this fort from March 1943 during the German occupation. (See Musée de la Resistance de Bondues')

The monument includes on the front an image of a chained executioner and the inscription: "Aux 68 Fusillés du Fort de Bondues 1943-1944" at the top of a torch representing the eternal flame.
On both sides the names of the executed.
From March 17, 1943 to May 1, 1944, 68 resistance fighters from the Northern region were executed in the moats of the fortress, some of them voluntarily betrayed as part of Operation Fortitude (Deception of the Normandy landings).
During their retreat, the Germans blow up the fort on September 1, 1944, after the liberation on September 3, the inhabitants discover the execution site. The Forces Française d'Interieur (FFI) discovers a list with the names of most of those executed by a captured officer.
They belonged to several resistance groups from the north of France, including "Voix du Nord", Organization Civile et Militaire", "Liberation Nord", "Alliance" and others, mostly French but also Belgians.

The most famous is René Bonpain, better known as Abbot Bonpain, he was a pastor from Dunkirk who was demobilized as chaplain after the debacle in 1940.
He returned to Dunkirk where he soon joined the resistance.
Every 2 weeks he smuggled young people in hiding as well as important information about the occupier to Free France. He is part of Alliance network.
In November 1942 he was arrested together with the head of the local group and his assistant.
On March 19, 1943, they appear before the court-martial, which pronounces a total of 9 death sentences, 5 of which were converted into forced labour. He was shot on March 30, 1943.

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Source

• Text: Francky De Rous
• Photos: Francky De Rous