Paris – 23.06.2026: Today, Marc Bloch, one of the most important French historians and resistance fighters against National Socialism, is being inducted into the Panthéon. The Bloch family has expressly demanded that the Rassemblement National (RN), the party of the right-wing political spectrum, be excluded from the ceremony. They justify this by stating that the political orientation of the RN contradicts the values for which Marc Bloch stood.
Marc Bloch was born in 1886 and is considered a pioneer of modern historical science in France. Together with Lucien Febvre, he founded in 1929 the “Annales d’histoire économique et sociale,” a journal that set new standards in historiography. During World War II, Bloch was actively involved in the resistance against the Nazi occupation. In 1944, he was arrested and murdered by the Gestapo. His family emphasizes that the honor in the Panthéon should be understood as a purely civilian recognition, honoring both his scholarly life’s work and his commitment in the resistance.
The announcement to induct Marc Bloch into the Panthéon was made in November 2024 by President Emmanuel Macron. At that time, he highlighted Bloch’s importance as a scholar and symbol of resistance. Today’s ceremony is also led by President Macron. He respects the family’s wish to exclude the RN from the celebration, although the formal presence of individual party supporters cannot be ruled out.
Marc Bloch’s family stresses that he was a determined opponent of any form of nationalism and that his work was based on the values of freedom, critical thinking, and republican openness—principles incompatible with the agenda of the Rassemblement National. For them, it is clear that Bloch’s spirit and work must not be used for political instrumentalization by right-wing parties.
Bloch’s Panthéon induction is regarded as an important recognition of his intellectual heritage and his commitment to the republican values of France. It aims to keep Bloch’s contribution to modern historiography and the resistance against National Socialism alive and to raise public awareness of these values.
The ceremony in the Panthéon is a symbolic act that recalls the courage and willingness to make sacrifices of a man who fought against oppression and intolerance. His family hopes that the celebration will clearly show all visitors why Bloch’s life and work remain relevant today and why they distance themselves from extreme political positions.
With today’s honor, Marc Bloch is definitively counted among the great personalities of France whose names remain forever associated with the ideals of freedom, democracy, and scholarly integrity. The family’s clear stance against the participation of the Rassemblement National gains special significance in a political climate where challenges to the Republic are perceptible.
Sources
- franceinfo