The contribution of Moroccan fighters to the liberation of France during the two World Wars was the focus of a conference held on Wednesday evening at the National Assembly in Paris. Organized under the theme «The contribution of the Kingdom of Morocco to the liberation of France and Europe during the two world wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945), and the status of Moroccan fighters», the event highlighted the bravery and sacrifice of the Moroccan soldiers who helped defend France's freedom, leaving an indelible mark on history through their heroic acts. In a statement to MAP, Naïma Moghir, president of the International Ambassador Association and initiator of the conference in partnership with the Forum of Parallel Diplomacy, stressed that the goal is to remind the French-Moroccan community, particularly the youth, of the history of their ancestors. She added that the meeting also aims to pass on and celebrate the shared values that unite the two countries: solidarity, fraternity, peace, and coexistence. Speaking at the event, Véronique Antomarchi, historian and lecturer at the University of Paris Cité, underscored the importance of knowing these stories and individual journeys, which form a crucial part of Franco-Moroccan history. She noted that Moroccan goumiers played a decisive role on several fronts, particularly during the 1943 battles in Corsica. For his part, filmmaker and photographer Roberto Battistini recalled that Moroccan goumiers and tirailleurs played a vital role during the Second World War, shedding their blood to liberate Europe from Nazism. Meanwhile, Patrick Barré, former director of the French Office for Veterans and War Victims (ONaCVG) in Morocco, emphasized the importance of this recognition. He noted that the office, based in Casablanca, works to preserve the memory of their service and to defend their status.
