Message to the French Resistance
La chanson d’automne — Fall Song
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon coeur
D’une langueur
Monotone.
Extraits de “La chanson d’automne”, poème de Paul Verlaine La première partie fut radiodiffusée sur la BBC dans la nuit du 1er au 2 juin 1944 pour annoncer l’éventualité d’un débarguement allié en France. Le seconde partie fut radiodiffusée dans le soirée du 5 juin 1944. Elle confirmait, auprès de La Résistance, l’imminence de Débarquement.
The long sobs
of the violins
of Autumn
Wound my heart
with a monotonous
languor.
Excerpts from "The Fall Song" poem by Paul Verlaine
The first part was broadcast on the BBC on the night of 1 to 2 June 1944 to announce the possibility of the Allied landing in France.
The second part was broadcast in the evening of 5 June 1944. It confirmed, to the Resistance, the imminent landing.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 2, 1944.
Location. 49° 20.245′ N, 0° 27.634′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Royal Canadian Navy Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Fourth Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (within shouting distance of this marker); Juno Beach (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of All Canadian Gunners (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Arromanches-les-Bains : La Bataille d’Arromanches (approx. 11.5 kilometers away); Passerell de Route Flottante de Port Mulberry (approx. 11.6 kilometers away); Allan Beckett Memorial (approx. 11.6 kilometers away); Mulberry Harbours Memorial (approx. 11.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Also see . . .
1. Chanson d'automne. Wikipedia article in English, on Paul Verlaine's poem, Chanson d’automne and its use to signal the French Resistance. “In preparation for Operation Overlord, the BBC had signaled to the French Resistance that the opening lines of the 1866 Verlaine poem “Chanson d’Automne” were to indicate the start of D-Day operations. The 
2. D-Day: The French Resistance. “The French Resistance was a key element in the succes of the D-Day landings. General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote after the War, ‘Throughout France the Resistance had been of inestimable value in the campaign. Without their great assistance the liberation of France would have consumed a much longer time and meant greater losses to ourselves’.” (Submitted on November 11, 2012.)
Additional keywords. D-Day, French Resistance
Credits. This page was last revised on May 29, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,007 times since then and 115 times this year. Last updated on December 30, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
