Anger in Nice as Nazi flag unfurled
Passers-by in a busy market square could not believe their eyes as a swastika banner was draped over the prefecture
TOURISTS and locals in Nice were shocked yesterday after the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture unfurled a giant Nazi banner over the front of the building, in the middle of the historic Vieille Ville area.
It turned out to be for a film.
Realising the commotion that it caused, the prefecture then put out an explanatory press release at the end of the afternoon...
Le drapeau nazi de nouveau déroulé sur le palais préfectoral ce mardi http://t.co/TSqPho8WfB #Nice06 pic.twitter.com/Fah5rFz62j— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) September 29, 2015
One witness told Nice-Matin: “People didn’t know if it was a joke, a film shoot, or meant to deliberately provoke. So, as soon as two men appeared on the roof to unfurl it a crowd started to shout. Right in the middle of the [Cours Saleya] antiques market, it obviously caused some strong feelings.”
One local commented that it did not help that the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes is called Adolphe Colrat.
The prefecture building, also known as le Palais des Rois Sardes, was standing in for the Excelsior Hotel, in a dramatisation of Joseph Joffo’s autobiographical novel Un Sac de Billes (A Bag of Marbles), which is set during the dark times of Jewish deportations from France.
In the film the hotel (which still exists in the city) is requisitioned by the SS to make it the headquarters of anti-Jewish operations. Located not far from the main train station, it was strategically placed to organise transportation of victims to Drancy in Ile-de-France, from where most were sent to Auschwitz.
The prefecture said the filming was part of “our duty to remember” what happened in the past.
The film is being directed by Québecois director Christian Duguay.
Photo: Miniwark
