Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation, Lyon

Anyone who visits the Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation (known in French as Centre d'Histoire et de la Déportation) cannot leave without gaining a profound understanding of the horrifying events that transpired during the Second World War.

The museum was established in 1992 on the grounds of a former military medical school, which holds significant symbolism as it was utilized by the Nazis during the war. Klaus Barbie, a notorious figure, was personally involved in interrogating and torturing numerous members of the Resistance, whether real or suspected. The renowned Resistance fighter Jean Moulin was detained and subjected to torture within its walls. The building itself was demolished during an American bombing raid in 1944.

The museum is affiliated with the Berthelot Centre. The original cellars, once used as holding cells, remain intact and play a crucial role in the museum's exhibitions, including temporary displays. These exhibitions educate visitors about the principles upheld by the Resistance and the lives of individuals dedicated to peace and human rights in the contemporary world.

The museum is structured around three core concepts: Information and Propaganda, Time and Space, and Commitment. Visitors have the opportunity to listen to music from that era, view short documentary films, and witness excerpts from over 700 recorded personal testimonies of Resistance fighters and deportees. The collection also includes documents and photographs that vividly narrate their harrowing experiences.

Survivors of concentration camps, the "hidden children," and Resistance members offer compelling firsthand accounts of the fear and the hidden struggles they endured.