Portrait of Missak Manouchian on a building in Paris

The photograph shows a portrait of Missak Manouchian painted on the wall of a building in Paris. The mural also features roses, barbed wire and a handwritten French text that opens with an address to Mélinée. Manouchian's surname, the date “18.11.1943” and the number “849617” are written in Latin letters.

Manouchian was an Armenian poet, translator and a prominent figure of the French Resistance during the years of fascist occupation. He took an active part in the work of the Armenian section of the combat group of immigrant workers and has been recognised as a national hero of France.

The group he led carried out almost 30 successful operations against the German occupation forces, among them the elimination of the general commander of Paris and of a high-ranking SS officer. Manouchian was posthumously awarded the Legion of Honour, and streets and squares in various cities of France and Armenia bear his name.