After Germany took France in short order in 1940 during World War II, several people melted into the hills. They soon gathered together to form the Maquis, or the French Resistance. Women were a large part of that effort. The group printed up the news of the war, including statement's from Charles DeGaulle, and passed it around. It was illegal at that point for the French to listen to DeGaulle's broadcasts from London.
Eventually, Carcassonne became an important transportation hub for the underground movement. Several rail lines met there, and the city became a spot where travel to such places as Gibralter (under British control) were coordinated. One house hosted 300 such people, who then headed for Spain and the resistance there.
Eventually, the Allies began to gain ground in France, and the German retreat was a bloody one, even for civilians. Some were lined up and executed, while property also was destroyed. After the war, trials were held on those thought to be traitors to France.
And that's why there's a statue in the center of Carcassonne. It's a tribute to those who served with the Maquis. Sometimes those statues in foreign towns carry powerful messages that are work sharing.
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