Traditour 2025: Dissidents of the Caribbean on a historical memorial trip

Traditour 2025: Dissidents of the Caribbean on a historical memorial trip

Today, July 5, 2025, the Caribbean not only celebrates summer, but also keeps an important piece of history alive. The Traditour 2025, inspired by the spirit of the Caribbean, began on July 4 in Dominica and commemorates the courageous Guadeloupean dissidents who fled during the dark times of World War II. They left their homeland, which was marked by repression and fear under the Vichy regime.

Amid the war that engulfed Europe, Guadeloupe faced a strict regime from 1940 onwards. Governor Sorin had introduced censorship and arrests that made the young generation dream of freedom and resistance. Many of them, like the protagonists of the Traditour, took the decisive step towards freedom and sailed on a small sailing boat towards Dominica to join the Forces Françaises Libres.

The escape of the dissidents

Escape was not an easy undertaking: on May 8, 1943, a group of young Guadeloupées undertook the risky adventure. Once in Dominica, they were not only trained in the art of survival, but also found the opportunity to actively fight. Their journey continued to Martinique and even the USA before they finally contributed to the liberation of Europe.

A particularly defining example is Pacôme, who fought under the flag of the Free French troops in Italy. His story is just one of many documented in the book “Résistances et dissidences” by Sylvie Meslien, Eliane Sempaires and Sylvain Demange, which highlights the experiences and heroic efforts of the Guadeloupean dissidents. Outremers360 notes that between 4,000 and 5,000 people from Guadeloupe and Martinique fled between 1940 and 1943 to resist the violent regime.

An unforgettable chapter in history

This courage remained in the shadows of history for a long time. After the war, Antillean and Guyanese resistance fighters were often ignored and excluded from the Conseil national de la Résistance because they were considered potentially subversive. It was not until 2011 that a memorial to these heroic survivors was created, enriching the annual commemorations. The road to recognition was long but crucial to keeping memory alive.

The Caribbean also played a strategic role in the global conflict during World War II. The Caribbean Battle took place between 1941 and 1945, with German and Italian submarines attempting to disrupt supplies to the Allies. This confrontational atmosphere contributed to the emergence of resistance and the desire for freedom in the Caribbean islands.

The Traditour 2025 not only remembers the stories of these courageous dissidents, but also sends a strong message: freedom and resistance are central values ​​that must be preserved. They remind us that fighting for one's own freedom often involves great risk, but it is worth fighting for justice and honor.