Holocaust Memorial Day in France

Long concealed in France, the memory of the Holocaust finally resurfaced in the 1990s, and today it occupies a central place in the historical consciousness of our country. As time passed, the Gaullist legend of an entirely resistant country no longer existed. The abuses of the Vichy regime are now recognized. The Vél’d’Hiv’ roundup on July 16, 1942 is one of the symbols of the Collaboration.

President François Mitterrand decided in 1993 to make July 16 a National Day in memory of the victims of racist and anti-Semitic persecutions committed under the de facto authority known as the “French State government” (1940-1944). Two years later, on July 16, 1995, President Jacques Chirac acknowledged France's responsibility in the Vél'd'Hiv' roundup and the deportation of the Jews. In 2000, the commemoration of July 16 became the National Day in memory of the victims of racist and anti-Semitic crimes by the French State and the tribute to the Righteous of France.

On October 18, 2002, European ministers of education adopted the declaration establishing a day of remembrance of the Holocaust and prevention of crimes against humanity. The date was left free to choose for each country. France and Germany chose January 27.