Back in 1708, King Louis IV established health services for the French Army and Navy. By 1890, these services had progressed to the point that two French Military Health Schools were needed (one in Bordeaux and one in Lyon) in order to train health care workers for the armed services. In the Spring of 1942, after Germany had occupied France, the Gestapo (secret police) set up their headquarters in Lyon’s Military Health School. Allied air forces destroyed the building in May of 1944.
Following the War, most of Lyon was rebuilt, including the former Military Health School. Its reconstruction refurbished the Health School as a museum to depict life as it existed in Lyon during World War II, as well as to pay homage to those who had been deported to German Concentration Camps. In particular, the museum recounts the French Resistance Movement, which had been led by Jean Moulin. He had been instrumental in bringing several groups together in order to form a cohesive force against the Nazis.
While the subject matter in this museum is somber, we felt it was necessary to explore it so that what happened during this period in time is not forgotten. It is well worth a visit.