11 November -National day of remembrance to the Unknown Soldier and all those who died for France

Funeral of the Unknown Soldier, Paris, 11 November 1920 - Photo: Neurdein Roger-Viollet
View a film honouring the Unknown Soldier and all those who died for France
Pay tribute to Hubert Germain
The last of the 1,038 “Companions of Liberation”, who passed away on Tuesday 12 October 2021, was buried on 11 November in the crypt of the Memorial of Combatant France, on Mont Valérien.
A film presenting the Companions of Liberation and putting Hubert Germain’s contribution in context
Documenting the ceremony honouring the Unknown Soldier
- 11 November, history of the national day of commemoration and remembrance for all those who died for France, an article published on the www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr website.
- 11 November, history of a national commemoration, an article on the 1914-18 centenary plans
- The 11 November ceremony, an article containing photos and audio (last call and call honouring the Unknown Soldier) published by the Université de Lorraine
- Choosing the Unknown Soldier, an article published in the Les chemins de la mémoire magazine, issue 102
- Milestones in the history of the Unknown Soldier on the Arc de Triomphe website
- Insight into the Unknown Soldier’s Grave on the website of La Flamme sous l’Arc de Triomphe association
- An interview with Jean-François Jagielski, teacher and WWI specialist, on the Souvenir Français website
- "Unknown Soldiers around the world", an article by Jean-François Jagielski
Keeping the memory of those who died for France alive
- Editorial by Serge Barcellini, Inspector-General of the Armed Forces, Chairman of Le Souvenir Français association
- Honouring the dead, an article by Victor Demiaux, Les chemins de la mémoire, issue 266
Listen to witness accounts and relive the event
- The account of Auguste Thin, the soldier who chose the Unknown Soldier, reported in the news from 1965
- See the face of the Unknown Soldier: a collaborative digital project led by the Historial de la Grande Guerre de Péronne association
Illustrating the 11 November 1920 with BnF collections

10/11/1920 - Verdun - Chapelle ardente dans la citadelle, le jour de la désignation du soldat inconnu
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10/11/1920 - Verdun - Transport de la bière contenant le corps du soldat inconnu
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10/11/1920 - Verdun - Transport de la bière contenant le soldat inconnu
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10/11/1920 - Verdun - Cortège accompagnant vers la gare la bière du soldat inconnu
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11/11/1920 - L'arrivée du catafalque du soldat inconnu place Denfert-Rochereau
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11/11/1920- Le catafalque du soldat inconnu place Denfert-Rochereau
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11/11/1920 - Vue du Panthéon - Cérémonie militaire avant le transfert du soldat inconnu vers l'Arc de Triomphe
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11/11/1920 - Le cercueil du soldat inconnu ressort du Panthéon
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11/11/1920- Le cercueil du soldat inconnu est remis sur l'affût de canon en sortant du Panthéon
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11/11/1920- Défilé du catafalque du soldat inconnu place de la Concorde
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11/11/1920- Le cercueil du soldat inconnu déposé sur l'affût de canon devant l'Arc de Triomphe
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11/11/1920 - La foule prenant possession des lieux après la cérémonie en l'honneur du soldat inconnu
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10/11/1920 - Le cercueil du soldat inconnu déposé sur l'affût de canon devant l'arc de triomphe
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10/11/1920 - Inhumation du soldat inconnu sous l'arc de triomphe
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