Prince Albert II Acknowledges Monaco's WWII Role, Apologizes for Jewish Deportation

Prince Albert II publicly acknowledged and expressed regret for Monaco's role during World War II in the arrest and deportation of Jews and resistance fighters. This acknowledgment came during a ceremony referencing the Second World War, highlighting the principality's involvement in rounding up individuals, many of whom were subsequently sent to Auschwitz and other extermination camps. During the war, Monaco, under Prince Louis II, had cooperative engagements with Nazi occupiers. Several unfortunate events included the arrest and deportation of Jews and resistance fighters to concentration camps. Historical records show that 42 Jews were rounded up in Monaco, with 39 of them deported to Auschwitz. Prince Albert II emphasized the need for reconciliation by admitting the truth about Monaco's wartime actions and honoring the victims’ memories. His statements were seen as an effort to confront the principality's controversial past and initiate a process of historical and moral accounting. This acknowledgment was a crucial step towards national introspection and the promotion of human rights and historical memory in Monaco. The prince's public admission aimed to foster an understanding of the past, emphasizing the importance of remembering the atrocities to prevent their recurrence. The event received significant attention from global and local media, symbolizing a notable departure from previously less transparent historical narratives associated with the principality's wartime conduct