France, April 16 -- President Emmanuel Macron was due in the southern French town of Vassieux-en-Vercors on Tuesday to lead a tribute to the local MaquisResistance fighters, who launched an attack against pro-Nazi forces 80 years ago - before a final counter-attack by German troops.

Macron's trip to Vassieux-en-Vercors- a small village in the Drome mountains that was completely destroyed during World War II - is part of a series of commemorative visits to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of France from Nazi occupation.

Earlier this month, the French president visited the Plateau des Glieres-the site of another Maquisguerrilla force that was decimated -and the Maison d'Izieu, where Jewish children were rounded up by the Gestap...