Marc Bloch and His Wife Simonne Vidal to Be Transferred to the Panthéon on June 23, 2026

Paris – 21.06.2026: On June 23, 2026, historian and resistance fighter Marc Bloch and his wife Simonne Vidal will be transferred to the Panthéon. French President Emmanuel Macron honors Bloch’s outstanding life’s work, his scientific contributions, and his courage in the fight against the Nazi occupation. The ceremony takes place 82 years after Bloch’s death by the Gestapo on June 16, 1944.

Marc Bloch, born in 1886, is regarded as one of the most significant French historians of the 20th century. He was co-founder of “Annales. Histoire, Sciences sociales,” a pivotal journal that profoundly influenced historical scholarship. His works such as “Les Rois thaumaturges” (1924) and “La société féodale” (1939–1940) have had a lasting impact on the approach to history and remain classics of the discipline to this day.

In addition to his academic work, Bloch actively engaged in the resistance against the German occupation of France during World War II. After his arrest by the Gestapo in 1944, he refused to cooperate and was executed near Lyon following severe torture. His wife Simonne Vidal, who supported him in the resistance, is now honored alongside him.

The Panthéonization of Marc Bloch and Simonne Vidal is the sixth of its kind under President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. Previous honorees include well-known figures such as Simone Veil, Maurice Genevoix, Joséphine Baker, Missak Manouchian, and Robert Badinter, who also made significant contributions to French history and society.

Prior to the ceremony on June 23, various accompanying events will take place. On June 22 and 23, the École normale supérieure on Rue d’Ulm will host a “Veillée républicaine,” a memorial event where citizens can come together. On July 3, 2026, a reading from Bloch’s work “L’Étrange Défaite,” which addresses his view on France’s 1940 defeat, will be held at the Panthéon.

The official transfer will begin at 9 p.m. and will be led by President Macron. From 6:30 p.m., the City of Paris will offer a special arrangement of Rue Soufflot in the 5th arrondissement to provide the public with a dignified setting.

This honor highlights both the significance of Marc Bloch’s scholarly work and his unwavering spirit of resistance. The joint induction of Marc Bloch and Simonne Vidal into the Panthéon underscores their impact on history, culture, and the memory of the French resistance during World War II.