Genesis and administration

Genesis & administration

Genesis

The building of an historical interpretation centre telling the story of the people of Alsace and Moselle was the resultat of an initiative of Jean Pierre Masseret, then Secretary of State of Former Soldiers and War Victims, and supported by regional elected officials such as Philippe Richert, Alain Ferry and Frederic Bierry. In 1999, Philippe Richert and Jean-Pierre Masseret decided the construction of the Memorial Alsace-Moselle and decided to build it in Schirmeck.

Located midway between Strasburg and St-Dié-des-Vosges, Schirmeck is at the crossroads of the Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin and Vosges French departments. Schirmeck was the site of an internment camp opened by the Nazis in August 1940. Moreover, the site of the Memorial faces Struthof, the former concentration camp, as well as the European Centre of the Deported Resistance Members, located on the other side of the valley. The proximity of these two sites, as well as their complementary tour visits, makes the memorial a must-see for anyone visiting Alsace.

On 18 June 2005, the Memorial opened its doors to the public. Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, inaugurated it on 3 November of the same year. Mixed Syndicate of the Alsace Moselle Memorial, along with Europe, the French State, the Lorraine Region and the General Council of Moselle financed the 10 million euros (excluding tax) necessary for the project.

In 2015, the European Parliament and the Alsace Region wished that the story of European construction were also be told at Schirmeck. Much work was done for the remodelling of the Memorial beginning in Summer 2016, and it was closed to the public on 5 December 2016.

The French State, through the Ministry of the Armed Forces, also participated in this work. On 1st October 2017: the moulting period had ended and the new Memorial was presented to the public.

Administration

Since January 2000, the Memorial has been managed by a Mixed Syndicate made up of the Grand Est Region, the two Alsatian departments, the federation of municipalites of the Bruche Valley and the Town of Schirmeck. Made up of elected officials representing these five groups, the Mixed Syndicate manages the Memorial. Alain Ferry, Mayor of Wisches, honorary deputy, has been the President of the Mixed Syndicate since its creation.

THE MEMORIAL’S TEAM

Gabrielle Dick

Accounting

Guillaume PELLENARD

Education services
Museum Shop

Sébastien SOSTER

Education services

Lauriane MAIRE

Reservations

Valérie REGUETTE

Reservations

Mélanie COLLIN

Documentation

Marie PECK

Officer in charge of welcoming German audiences

Amandine HUBER

Officer in charge of welcoming German audiences

Marie SUTtER

Delphine PELLENARD

Communication
Press Officer

Arnaud PACLET

Communication

Lucas ROUGET