38 Avenue d'Italie

The Case of the Dominicans of Arceuil.

It must be understood within the context and atmosphere of the end of the Commune; it took place during the Battle of the Butte-aux-Cailles. Presented as ‘martyrs murdered by the Communards’, the 13 Dominicans were among the victims of the final assault by the Versaillais.

The Dominicans ran the Albert le Grand school near the Fort de Bicêtre. Their school served as a field hospital in an area of strong resistance, as the Versaillais approached.

The Versaillais were able to storm the forts at the Saquet mill (Vitry) and the Moutard mill (Arcueil), as traitors had revealed the passwords. Almost all the National Guardsmen of the 120th Battalion were executed on the spot. There were rumours of treason, and Léo Meillet ordered General Wroblewski to conduct an investigation. The Dominicans were accused of signalling to the Versaillais.

Apprehended by the National Guard, they entered Paris through the Porte d’Ivry; then Serizier, the colonel of the 13th Legion during the Commune, had them locked up in the 9th Sector prison at 38 Avenue d’Italie, before leaving to organise the defence of Place Jeanne d’Arc. But the guards made them leave to ‘go to the barricades’: the Dominicans agreed ‘to collect the wounded’, but were caught in the crossfire on Avenue d’Italie as the Versaillais advanced.

Some believe they were executed by the National Guard; others believe they were caught in the crossfire, among all the dead on Avenue d’Italie. The famous photograph of their execution is in fact a photomontage created after the Commune to prove that they were murdered by the Communards.