Sicily

As part of the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation during the Second World War, the class of 3rd 5 and the Italianistes students of 3rd 2 worked on an interdisciplinary pedagogical project articulating history, citizenship and living language on the traces of the liberation of Europe from the Nazi yoke during the Second World War (1939-1945) by studying the different landings of the Allies: in Sicily in 1943, in Provence and in Normandy in 1944.

Students have learned about these major historical events through various educational activities during sessions in the history classroom, history of Monaco and Italian with a school trip to Sicily to offer students not only an immersion in the history and collective memory, but also a valuable cultural and human experience.

The school trip took place from 24 to 28 March in the eastern region of the island of Sicily, on the trail of Operation Husky, which began on 10 July 1943. This operation allowed the allied forces to gain a foothold in southern Europe, precipitating the fall of the fascist regime in Italy and paving the way for the invasion of the continent. 2,590 ships, 160,000 soldiers, 14,000 vehicles, 600 tanks, 4,000 aircraft are mobilized by the Allies for this military operation.

The students immersed themselves in the context of the Second World War, observing the ruins of the church of S. Euplio, in Catania, place of memory of the martyrs  (since Saint Agathe, patron saint of the city but also civilians killed during the conflict, especially the Jewish community).

Then on the occasion of the visit of the Landing Museum in Catania.

As soon as you enter the museum, you will be immersed in the 1940s. In the reconstituted decor of a village, the senses are awakened with slogans coming out of loudspeakers and fascist posters glued to the walls. The propaganda sentiment recalls the context of the Second World War. To the sounds of sirens announcing an imminent aerial bombardment, the visit continues towards a bomb shelter. In the dark, the wait is long, we hear the planes arrived... the bombardments begin, the walls tremble under our feet. We can imagine the fear, the anguish invading the civilian population. The time seems long... When finally calm seems to return, we leave the shelter: the village is in ruins. 

Subsequently, the museum also offers an interactive way to discover the movement of the troops of the allies on Sicily and various showcases unveil uniforms, weapons, testimonies... bunker allowing to be in direct contact the epoch of the Second World War.

At the Commonwealth Military Cemetery in Catania, students were able to see all the lives sacrificed by the Allies for the liberation of Sicily. They were particularly touched by this place where there is serenity and emotion. Flowers adorn the numerous tombs, a sign of respect.

In Syracuse, in the basement of the church of San Filippo, on the 2nd level, the students discovered a maze of corridors, dark, wet, where civilians took refuge during air raids. The waiting, the fear, the earth that trembles under the explosion of shells... Some drawings are still visible on the walls. Many underground are still present under the city, most of them join the sea, ultimate way to escape the risks.

In Augusta, we were welcomed by the dell’ Hangar Team association to discuss their local heritage, in this case an emblematic hangar of their city. Military port it was a coveted territory by the Allies during the landing in Sicily. This site built between 1917 and 1921 was used to store airships in charge of monitoring the Mediterranean, in particular to locate the Allied submarines then it became later, an anchor point for the English aviation.

At the end of their stay, the students went to meet the population in order to collect testimonies from the local population on the memory of the Second World War. The opportunity for them to work on their living language skills and to record as closely as possible the traces of the conflict in the memory of the inhabitants of Catania.

The whole stay was also an opportunity to discover all the cultural and topographical wealth of Sicily: traces of the ancient Greek and Roman period (amphitheatre, forum...), through the Middle Ages and the Arab-Muslim presence (cathedral of Syracuse), and Norman (castle Ursino), Spanish, house of Savoy and Bourbons. Sicilian syncretism is incredibly rich. Or the discovery of Mount Etna, the museum of contemporary art and street art that testify to the renewal of the city of Catania, while maintaining a true authenticity.

The importance of these historical events far exceeds their military dimension. They symbolize the international solidarity and courage of soldiers from different backgrounds to fight against tyranny.

For the younger generations of college students, the duty to remember is essential. Students learn the values of freedom, sacrifice and solidarity. They become aware of the horrors of war and the importance of peace, making them actors of collective memory.

We thank the DENJS, the Direction du collège Charles III and the Monegasque association AMOPA for their unwavering support throughout this project which has created wonderful memories for students and teachers. 

Emeline Lelievre, professor of history and geography

Andrea Melis, Italian teacher

Virginie De Marcellis, French teacher