Crises of commemoration: Cold War, decolonization and the bungled 1954 D-Day commemoration

A 1954 D-Day commemoration in Normandy, intended to project unity and pro-Allied solidarity amid Cold War tensions and decolonization pressures, instead became a source of contention. Organized by French Gaullist deputy Raymond Triboulet, the event was marred by logistical missteps that risked undermining Allied participation in subsequent Paris Liberation ceremonies. The study reveals how this moment of disjuncture exposed the intersection of memory politics, international diplomacy, and broader geopolitical shifts, including France's post-Dien Bien Phu crisis and debates over the European Defence Community.

Smith, A. W. M. (2020). Crises of commemoration: Cold War, decolonization and the bungled 1954 D-Day commemoration. French History, 35(1), 91–111. https://doi.org/10.1093/fh/craa049