An unprecedented industrial tragedy

In the grey hours of the early morning on 10 March 1906, hundreds of families are suddenly plunged into anguish, after an explosion tore through the subsoil of the Courrières sector at 6.34 am. The mineral dust and the gases suspended in the bowels of the mines had caught fire. More than 110 kilometres of the network of tunnels are impacted.

From a human point of view, the shock resides in the uncertainty over the fates of the 1425 men who had begun their shifts an hour and a half beforehand. News of the catastrophe draws sympathy from beyond national borders, most notably in the Ruhr, one of the mining and industrial hearts of the German Empire.

German aid to the rescue operations

On the morning of 11 March, the tragedy is the focus of a phone call between two mining leaders of the area around Herne, a city located near Dortmund in Germany. Deeply moved by the events, Konrad Engel raises the possibility to Georg Albrecht Meyer of supplying aid. They agree that Engel must ask a mine manager he knows in Béthune whether assistance is desired.

In the meantime, Meyer will seek approval from the management of his company, which expresses its wish to wait for a French request. Engel has however already gone to send his proposal via telegram at the post office, such that Meyer cannot stop him. The mines of Courrières swiftly express their gratitude for this offer that was almost never made. That same evening, a twenty-five-men-strong team of volunteers boards a train, bringing with them modern rescue equipment that is not in use in France. 

The toll taken by the disaster

In spite of their courage, the German rescuers are met with a mixed reception on the site of the tragedy. The atmosphere does however improve rapidly, especially as the breathing equipment that was delivered makes it possible to travel farther in a hostile environment. Each time they return to the surface, the German miners are met with cheers from the crowd. But three days after the explosion, General Engineer Delafond orders a stop to the search and the sealing of certain entrances to the mines, in order to halt the spread of the fire that is still raging underground.

Priority is given to the safety of the deposit rather than that of the miners, which crystallises frustrations. Taking issue with this decision, Meyer, who had placed himself at the head of the German team, leaves with the majority of his men, but leaves eight of them behind. Shocked as well, the local population of Pas-de-Calais launches a wave of strikes. Nevertheless, survivors are found, including the last one on April 4, thanks to the help of the German rescuers who had stayed behind. Officially, 1099 miners and a few French rescuers died in the disaster.

Gratitude for the Germans rescuers' gesture

The work of the German rescuers was all the more impressive as it happened during a period of tension between their country and France concerning the influence wielded over Morocco.

As a show of his will to bring about peace, German Emperor Wilhelm II wished to be identified with the rescue, and ordered the organisation of a ceremony during which he would honour the heroes and award them medals. In a brief speech, he emphasises his gratitude and endorses the love of one's neighbour, which would "unite the peoples beyond the border markers, no matter their race". An official recognition also takes place on the French side: Meyer is awarded membership in the Legion of Honour, and the other German rescuers receive the golden rescue medal. 

The birth of a place of memory

Early on, this act of solidarity is already commemorated with the affixing of a bronze plaque honouring the rescue team in their company facilities. The celebration of the act is however momentarily lost in the turmoil of the First World War. The Courrières tragedy does serve as inspiration for a feature-length motion picture by filmmaker Wilhelm Georg Pabst in 1931. Entitled Kameradschaft ("Camaraderie") in German and La Tragédie de la mine ("The Tragedy of the Mine") in French, the film strongly emphasizes the ability of both countries' peoples to fraternise.

Past solidarity as a foundation for the solidarity to come

Following the Second World War, the memory of the German initiative in 1906 motivates the city of Herne to build ties with the French towns that were affected by the disaster. In 1954, it turns towards the cities of Hénin-Liétard, Billy-Montigny and Lens, on whose territories the wells were particularly impacted.

This leads to the signing of a pact between the four municipalities, aiming to contribute to Franco-German reconciliation. The first delegations to travel between the towns are composed of miners, but very soon groups of children are included in the exchanges as well. In 1967, an official act of partnership is signed between Herne and Hénin-Liétard. Since then, the pairing has been extended to the level of the schools in both cities.