HOTEL LUTETIA

D’AVRIL A AOUT 1945 EN CET HOTEL ALORS TRANSFORME EN CENTRE D’ACCUEIL FUT REÇUE UNE GRANDE PARTIE DES RESCAPES DES CAMPS DE CONCENTRATION NAZIS, HEUREUX DE RETROUVER LA LIBERTE ET LES ETRES CHERS, AUXQUELS ILS AVAIENT ETE ARRACHES.
LEUR JOIE NE POUVAIT EFFACER L’ANGOISSE ET LA PEINE DE FAMILLES DES MILLIERS DE DISPARUS QUI ATTENDIRENT VAINE MENT LES LEURS EN CES LIEUX.

40e ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA LIBERATION DES CAMPS-21 MAI 1985

The Hotel Lutetia is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Paris. During World War II, it served as the headquarters of German intelligence. Immediately after the war, it became a reception station for French prisoners of war and survivors of concentration camps.

The entrance to the hotel where the sign is located was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image
The hotel was photographed on the same day by Yael Gairola Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:
HOTEL LUTETIA

FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 1945, THIS HOTEL, THEN TRANSFORMED INTO A RECEPTION CENTER, WAS RECEIVED A LARGE PART OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS, HAPPY TO FIND FREEDOM AND THEIR LOVED ONES, FROM WHOM THEY HAD BEEN TORN.
THEIR JOY COULDN’T ERASE THE ANGUISH AND PAIN OF THE FAMILIES OF THE THOUSANDS OF THE DISAPPEARED WHO WAITED IN VAIN FOR THEIR LOVED ONES IN THESE PLACES.

40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE CAMPS-21 MAY 1985